Sinn Féin TD for Cork East Sandra McLellan has welcomed the Government response to the Cloyne Report, but said that the deeds which made it necessary were a shameful disgrace.

Speaking in the Dáil today on an all-party motion Deputy McLellan said:

“What astonishes most people with regards this report is that it related to a time when the Catholic Church in Ireland had put in place detailed procedures for dealing with child sexual abuse, and during a period of constant revelations with regards child abuse by priests. Best practice as contained in guidelines and rules doesn’t matter one iota if there isn’t implementation. There was abject failure on behalf of the church and to a lesser degree the state.”

She added:

“I am very glad that the Government have taken issue with the disgraceful lack of engagement by the Papal Nuncio with the Commission and the outrageous interference of the Vatican in matters of child protection in this state. I welcome the Government’s stated priority of bringing abusers to justice and in particular the appointment of the Assistant Commissioner to examine the possibility of doing this. In addition, I would make a personal call on all abuse victims to go straight to the Gardaí as the body best able to deal with allegations of abuse.”

“Sinn Féin are heartened by the ‘Children First’ child protection guidelines being placed on a statutory footing. The government has made firm commitments following the Cloyne report. We are determined to see that these commitments are delivered upon.

She concluded:

“This has been a long and painful chapter in Irish history and the reports and investigations are set to continue. We must make sure that no child, from this day forth, is ever subjected to the horrors visited on the victims detailed in this and previous reports. This must end. Immediately.”