File:CloyneReport.pdf

The Cloyne Report

The report is the result of an inquiry, ordered in 2009 by Judge Yvonne Murphy after concerns were raised about child protection practices and the Catholic Church in the diocese of Cloyne, County Cork in the Irish Republic. It was published on 13 July 2011. Irish Minister of Justice Alan Shatter described the revelations of the report as Truly Scandalous - they could not be starker or more disturbing

The report’s main points

• The “greatest failure” of the diocese was the failure to report cases of abuse to the civil authorities: the diocese failed to alert the gardaí about nine out of 15 cases that “very clearly” should have been reported
• The primary responsibility for the failure of the child sexual abuse procedures being adhered to lies with the bishop of Cloyne at the time – John Magee – who “took little or no active interest” in implementing procedures until 2008 (12 years after the guidlines had been agreed upon)
• The Vatican was “entirely unhelpful” in assisting clerics wishing to implement procedures – describing the guidelines as “a study document”
• While the response of the health authorities was “adequate”, the state is in need of stronger guidelines regarding child protection
• Although the report is generally complimentary about the gardaí’s response, the handling of three cases have caused concern

External Links

• Cloyne report findings ‘could not be starker or more disturbing’ - TheJournal.ie 13 July 2011
• Irish premier attacks Vatican after new evidence of child abuse WSWS 16 August 2011