The current Bishop of Kilmore, Bishop Leo O'Reilly, has come in for strong praise from the Catholic Church's National Board for the Safeguarding of Children, the (NBSCCC) in a review of safeguarding practices in the diocese published last Wednesday.
Kilmore is one of six dioceses subjected to the review undertaken by the church's own child protection office headed by Ian Elliott. Other dioceses include Ardagh and Clonmacnoise, Derry, Raphoe, Dromore and the Archdiocese of Tuam.
The report does state the church's response to the serial offender Brendan Smyth was inadequate but notes that this predates Bishop Leo O'Reilly episcopate.
In all seven complaints were received against priests in the diocese between 1975 and November, 2010 (see below).
Mr Elliott's office has been quite robust in its criticisms with regard to child safeguarding practices in other diocese most notably with regard to Cloyne.
However, in relation to Kilmore his office states that the practice with regard to the safeguarding of children is of a consistently high standard.
"There were no case examples of poor practice with the exception of those that relate to concerns which emerged prior to the arrival of the present bishop, the development of his safeguarding team and the adoption of the 'Safeguarding Children: Standards and Guidance'."
Mr Elliott's office has commended all involved in the sphere of child protection in the diocese of Kilmore remarking that "they provide an excellent example for other Church authorities to follow".
Expanding on this theme he states that some of the most notable features of practice within Kilmore are the enthusiasm and commitment of staff and volunteers.
"They wanted to improve and to achieve best practice for the sake of vulnerable children. Particular praise must be paid to the Bishop of Kilmore, Most Rev Leo O'Reilly DD. He provides direction for his staff and constantly supports and encourages them."
The task of undertaking a comprehensive review of safeguarding practice in each of the diocese in Ireland was given to the National Board by the Irish Bishops Conference.
The terms of reference of the review were to ascertain the full extent of all complaints or allegations, knowledge, suspicions or concerns of child sexual abuse made to the diocese in the period January 1, 1975 to June 1, 2010, against Catholic clergy and/or religious still living and who are ministering/or who once ministered under the aegis of the diocese and examine/review and report on the nature of the response on the part of the diocese.
According to the review the Kilmore diocesan Safeguarding Children Committee is active and competent in the area of policy development and training.
It noted that the committee produced an impressive range of guidance documents that have been disseminated across the diocese. All were compliant with Church guidance, it said.
Commenting on the review's findings Bishop Leo O'Reilly expressed the hope that it will give some measure of reassurance to victims, their families and to all parents and families, that the diocese has high standards of safeguarding and is open to continued enhancement of current and future practice and so contribute to making it a safe place for children.
Noting the review's commendation of "the enthusiasm and commitment of staff and volunteers", Bishop O'Reilly joined in that commendation and thanked all who have worked so diligently to improve and maintain high standards in the Church's continuing commitment to safeguarding children.
The review lists the number of priests of the diocese against whom allegations have been made since January 1, 1975 up to November, 2010.
The number of priests against whom allegations were made over that period is seven and the Gardaí and the HSE (or Health Boards) in all cases.
Four priests against whom allegations were made were still living at the time of the review, while three were deceased.
Two priests against whom allegations were made are now "out of ministry" or have left the priesthood.
One priest of the diocese has been convicted of having committed an offence against a child or young person.
The number of priests against whom an allegation were made and who are in ministry or retired is listed as two.
Response to Brendan Smyth inadequate
In relation to the management of allegations the report says that a total of 21 case files were made available for review.
Only a few fell within the terms of reference for the review but all were read by the reviewer including the papers relating to Fr Brendan Smyth whom it describes "as a serial offender".
The review says that Father Brendan Smyth's case commanded considerable public interest and it was for that reason it was being commented upon within the review but it was not included in the statistical analysis of cases.
It says that the response made to Father Smyth was inadequate.
Although he was removed from ministry initially, he was returned some years later and his priestly faculties continued to be renewed each year until he was again the focus of new allegations of abuse, which eventually led to his conviction and imprisonment.
The review stresses that none of those failures could be attributed in any way to the present bishop or to anyone currently in a safeguarding role in the diocese.
It points out that Smyth was not an incardinated priest of the diocese but was a member of a religious order who ministered within the diocese.
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