Cathal Barry
Bishop Treanor commissioned the external independent review of Down & Connor in December 2012.
A new child safeguarding report has recognised the “enormous efforts” made by the Diocese of Down & Connor in ensuring the safety of children in all aspects of diocesan activity.
The Devaney Report 2013, undertaken by Dr John Devaney of Queen’s University Belfast, also praised the “strong leadership” of the Bishop of Down & Connor, Noel Treanor.
The report finds that there is “clear evidence within the diocese of strong leadership, the growing spread of a culture of safeguarding across all aspects of the work of the Diocese, and an openness to considering how the progress to date can be both sustained and developed”.
However, it notes that the next period will be challenging for the diocese as it moves to develop arrangements to protect and safeguard vulnerable adults.
The focus of the review was the arrangements in place regarding safeguarding structures at both diocesan and parish level, working arrangements with the statutory sector, and the implementation of policies and procedures to safeguard children and vulnerable adults.
One of the report’s key observations was that “enormous efforts” had been made by the diocese in recent years in “setting up systems, developing policies, providing training and implementing procedures in line with the standards within the Catholic Church and the wider civil requirements”.
“Safeguarding within the diocese of Down & Connor has come a long way in a relatively short space of time. Within the diocese there is clear evidence of an overarching commitment to keeping children safe in all aspects of diocesan activity and clear leadership by Bishop Treanor,” the report states.
Bishop Treanor commissioned the external independent review of Down & Connor in December 2012.
