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Safeguarding Children

A new child protection policy for the Diocese of Cork and Ross was published in Jan 2008. Its purpose is to put procedures in place in every parish which will ensure the safeguarding and protection of children and young people who may be involved in Church-related activities.
In a letter read in all parishes in the Diocese on December 1st and 2nd, 2007 , Bishop Buckley spoke of the family as the basic unit of our society and of childrens’ central role in it. The Gospel speaks of the concern that Jesus had for children, rebuking the disciples for keeping them away from him: “Let the children come to me; do not stop them”.
Each parish will appoint one or two Parish Representatives, who will be responsible for ensuring that all information about procedures for the safety of children is available in each parish. The Parish Representative will assist in drafting a parish policy and in putting structures in place for its implementation.
The first step towards appointing Parish Representatives involved three meetings with clergy which took place around the Diocese in November 2007, at which the detail of this plan was explained. From January 2008, the parishes will appoint Child Protection Representatives who will then be trained. A schedule for 2008 has been drawn up by the Training Coordinators, which will ensure that all parishes in Cork and Ross will have Parish Representatives trained and in place by the end of 2008.
Two Training Cooordinators, Mr. Ciarán Boland and Ms. Bernie O’Callaghan, will undertake this work. They are members of the Diocesan Child Protection Committee, which also includes: Fr. Tom Deenihan, Mr. Jim Hayes, Ms. Marion Healy, Canon Liam O’Driscoll, Canon Teddy O’Sullivan, Mr. Seán Redmond and Ms. Una Webster.

Concerns
If you or anyone has a child protection concern or wishes to report an allegation directly to the statutory authorities, i.e. the local Health or Social Services (the Duty Social Worker) and the Garda Siochana, the contact details are::
Health Services Executive
• North Lee Community Services, Social Work Servs, North Lee, Blackpool, Cork. Tel: 021-4927000.
• South Lee Community Services, St. Finbarr’s Hospital, Douglas Rd., Cork. Tel: 021-4923001.
• West Cork Community Services, Coolnagarrane, Skibbereen, Co. Cork. Tel: 028-40447/40456..
An Garda Siochana
• Anglesea Street, Cork. Tel: 021-4522000.
• Clonakilty, Co. Cork. Tel: 023-8821570.
• Bantry, Co. Cork. Tel: 027-20860.

Director of Child Protection:
To report a concern or an allegation in relation to Church personnel directly to Church authorities, please contact the person delegated by the diocese:
Vy Rev Canon Liam O'Driscoll
Address: Diocesan Director of Child Protection, Cork & Ross Offices, Redemption Road, Cork.
Phone: Tel: 021-4301717 (Office) 021-4342728 (home)
Email: liam.odriscoll@corkandross.org

Related resources

Pope Benedict's Letter to Irish Catholics
Pope Benedict's Pastoral Letter & Cardinal Sean Brady's welcome address (2010)

Safeguarding Children
Safeguarding Children - Standards and Guidance Document for the Catholic Church in Ireland (2009)

Our Children, Our Church
Child Protection Policies and Procedures for the Catholic Church in Ireland published in December 2005.

Irish Bishops' Pastoral Letter for Lent 2005: "A Time for Healing"
Deals with the Church's response to Child Sexual Abuse.

Child Sexual Abuse: Framework for a Church Response - Report Of The Irish Catholic Bishops' Adisory Commottee On Child Sexual Abuse By Priests And Religious Published in 1996 by Veritas Publications

Related Links

Report by Commission of Investigation into Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin (Murphy Report)
The Commission reported in November 2009 on its inquiry into the handling of child abuse allegations against priests in the archdiocese.

Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Ryan Report)
The Commission reported in May 2009 on its inquiry into child abuse in Irish industrial schools and other institutions.

Ferns Report
The inquiry examined cases of child sexual abuse onthe Ferns diocese and reported in Oct. 2005.