Scottish Catholic Observer

The Scottish Government is expected to announce a wide-ranging inquiry into abuse of children in care later this week and a Church spokesman said they would support ‘an evidence-based inquiry into abuse in care in Scotland.’

The Church today published details of their the Diocesan Safeguarding Audit for 2013.

The results of this audit show that 15 allegations were made of which seven were against members of the clergy. Six dated to the 1980s or earlier and ten of the allegations were of sexual abuse, of which three also involved physical abuse.

These statistics have been compiled by the Safeguarding Offices in each of Scotland’s eight dioceses, signed off by each diocesan bishop and collated by the Scottish Catholic Safeguarding Service.

As of November 2014, there were no prosecutions associated with 2013 allegations. Two of the cases have been reported to the procurator fiscal, two of the alleged perpetrators have died, three have been removed from ministry, one is no longer a volunteer and two outcomes are unknown to the Church.

Ten of the allegations were reported to the police and the five which were not reported to the police related to shouting at a group of children, poor boundaries and an abuse of power.

None of these were regarded as illegal actions but required a response from the diocesan safeguarding advisor and bishop.

A spokesman for the Church said the publication showed that they were seeking ‘safeguard the welfare of people of all ages who are involved in whatever capacity with the Church and its organisations. The publication of this audit is an example of the commitment to transparency and openness made previously by Scotland’s Catholic bishops.’

The spokesman also said the ‘external’ review of safeguarding protocols and procedures being conducted by Dr Andrew McLellan will report in 2015 and the statistical review of all historic cases of abuse from 1947-2005 will be published at that time also.’

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