Northern Ireland diocese announces Redress Scheme for abuse survivors

By Vatican News staff reporter

The Diocese of Dromore in Ireland has announced a Redress Scheme for victims of sexual abuse by priests in its diocese.

In a statement, the Diocese said “it was committed to doing what it can to help bring healing to the survivors of clerical sexual abuse.”

Apologies

Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, the Archbishop of Armagh and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Dromore, Eamon Martin described what had occurred in the diocese as “abhorrent.”

“The Diocese of Dromore apologises unreservedly for the hurt and damage caused to victims and survivors of any priest or church representative acting under its authority. The Diocese of Dromore finds such behaviour towards children and vulnerable people abhorrent, inexcusable and indefensible.”

Supporting survivors

Archbishop Martin said that having met with a number of survivors, and having examined the various existing legal claims against the diocese, he wished to “facilitate a resolution process to enable the provision of financial and other supports for survivors without undue further delay.”

The Archbishop also underlined that the diocese was “willing to commit whatever resources it has available for the purpose of redress to this scheme, even if that should exhaust those resources.”

According to the diocese, the Redress Scheme “will be open to victims and survivors of child sexual abuse suffered at the hands of representatives of the Diocese."

It also said it was endeavouring “to ensure a process which is victim-centred and aims to provide victims with recognition and reasonable compensation without the need for lengthy investigation and litigation.”

Towards healing

“The Diocese understands that redress may take varying forms,” noted the statement. “As well as enabling the provision of financial redress, the Scheme includes the possibility of a personal apology on behalf of the Diocese and other ways of providing pastoral support. The Diocese will also support the provision of counselling via the Towards Healing service.”

The statement went on to say that “the Scheme will respond to applications where there are allegations of sexual abuse (including sexual grooming), which may or may not have been accompanied by physical and/or emotional abuse, and which occurred when the Applicant was under the age of 18.  All applications will be assessed by an independent Panel, appointed via an independent process managed by a third party organisation.”

“In assessing applications the Panel will have regard to all the available information and make its decision on the balance of probabilities and on a majority basis. The process will fall outside the civil litigation process and be comparable to a mediation. It is anticipated that the process will be informal in nature but is intended to be binding on the parties should a resolution be agreed.”

Commitment outreach 

Archbishop Eamon Martin said he is committed “to continuing his ongoing pastoral outreach to survivors, making himself available to meet with those victims who wish to share their story with him and to consider with him other ways in which their pain can be acknowledged and by which their healing can be assisted.” 

About 70 people have come forward in the past 35 years to make allegations of abuse related to the diocese.