Review of Safeguarding Practice May 2014

Statement of Bishop Kieran O’Reilly 12th May 2014

» Download the Review of Safeguarding Practice in the Diocese of Killaloe

Killaloe diocese welcomes child safeguarding report and urges anybody who has been abused to come forward.

I welcome the publication today of the review of safeguarding practice in the diocese of Killaloe by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland. The Board has conducted a comprehensive audit of safeguarding practice in the diocese and have made four recommendations. On behalf of the diocese we accept these recommendations.

I would like to express my thanks to the members of the National Board for their help in the process of ensuring that our safeguarding systems are the best they can possibly be. Their continued support is appreciated.

The report – one of nine published today in relation to four dioceses and five congregations – follows a full review in November 2013 of case files in the Diocese as well as interviews with key personnel involved in safeguarding children.

The safeguarding practices were assessed against the seven national standards and 48 criteria. The Report found that 44 out of 48 criteria have been fully met, the remaining four are partially met at the time of the audit.

Our first thoughts today are with the victims/survivors of abuse. Abuse of children is reprehensible and there are no words that can adequately express the depth of pain endured by people who have been sexually abused.

The Diocesan Child Safeguarding office under the Director, Ms Cleo Yates, is a key and central part of the commitment of the diocese to the safeguarding of children within the diocese.

I would like to express our appreciation for the support, guidance and assistance afforded to us by An Garda Síochána and the HSE. We have excellent relationships with both statutory bodies. We look forward to working with the newly established Child and Family Agency – Tusla.

The diocese of Killaloe extends our heartfelt apologies to all those who suffered abuse at the hands of a small number of priests of Killaloe. I would like to assure parents and children that the diocese is committed to ensuring that best practices are in place and operational at all times to safeguard children and to listen to their voices.

The report is complementary yet it still is a work in progress. Care, vigilance and monitoring are our approach to all aspects of child safeguarding – involving continual monitoring of all protocols and procedures ensuring that best practice is followed at all times.

Bishop Kieran O’Reilly

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Killaloe Diocese safeguarding and Child protection contact information
Anyone with a child protection concern may contact:

• Diocesan Designated Persons:
• Ms. Cleo Yates (086) 809 60 27
• Fr. Pat Malone (086) 809 60 74

Postal correspondence: Diocesan Office, Westbourne, Cusack Road, Ennis, Co. Clare.

For further information including the review please see:
http://www.killaloediocese.ie/safeguarding

Support/Counselling
Towards Healing is an organisation which provides telephone counselling and a counselling and psychotherapy referral service for survivors of Institutional, Clerical and Religious abuse.
Towards Healing can be contacted on Freephone 1800 303416 (Rep. of Ireland) Freephone 0800 0963315 (Northern Ireland and UK)

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Confirmation:

We congratulate the twenty-one children who received the sacrament of Confirmation during 11am Mass on Sunday 11 May 2014 at St Michael’s Church, Kildysart.  May the Holy Spirit always protect and bless the children, their parents and families.

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First Holy Communion:

We congratulate the twenty-one children who received Holy Communion for the first time during 11am Mass on Sunday 4 May 2014 at St Michael’s Church, Kildysart.  May the Lord always protect and bless the children, their parents and families.

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The year 2014 will be an important year for the children in our parish who will receives the Lord for the first time in Holy Communion on Sunday 4 May 2014 and for their families.

These final months of preparation will involve the families, our school and parish working together for the good of the children. The parish part of our preparation is based on the ‘Do This in Memory’ programme. Our thanks are due to the group of parents who have kindly volunteered to organise our parish programme.

One Sunday each month, our parish celebration of the Eucharist will focus on our children who are preparing to receive the sacrament and their families. The list of dates, including the children’s first celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation (confession), is as follows:

• Enrolment Mass                       Sunday 20 October 2013 at 11am;
• Preparation Mass                     Sunday 10 November 2013 at 11am;
• Preparation Mass                     Sunday 15 December 2013 at 11am;
• Preparation Mass                     Sunday 26 January 2014 at 11am;
• Preparation Mass                     Sunday 16 February 2014 at 11am;
• Preparation Mass                     Sunday 23 March 2014 at 11am;
• Sacrament of Reconciliation   Wednesday 9 April 2014 at 7.30pm;
• First Holy Communion             Sunday 4 May 2014 at 11am.

A meeting for the parents of children who are preparing to receive Holy Communion for the first time this year will take place in the Community Centre, Kildysart at 8pm on Monday 23 September.

Confirmation:

Confirmation will be celebrated in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart on Sunday 11 May.

A liturgy in preparation for the sacrament of confirmation will take place in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart on Thursday 10 April 2014 at 8pm. Parents, other family members and members of our parish are welcome to join the candidates for confirmation in this liturgy.

A meeting for the parents of the young people preparing to receive the sacrament of confirmation will take place in the Community Centre, Kildysart on Tuesday 1 October at 8pm.

Fr Pat Larkin PP, Kilmaley will lead both meetings.

A ceremony of light in preparation for the sacrament of confirmation will take place in st Michael’s Church, Kildysart on Thursday 10 April 2014