You are invited to attend this important Diocesan event, in person, or online at ST PATRICK’S CHURCH WEBCAM
23rd February 2025 – Statement from the Diocese of Down and Connor regarding Fr Patrick O’Neill (Deceased)
The Diocese of Down and Connor is fully committed to protecting children and adults and bringing healing to the victims of abuse.
Since taking up office as the Bishop of Down and Connor last year, I was made aware that the Diocese had recently received an allegation of the sexual abuse of a minor against the deceased priest Fr Patrick O’Neill. The Diocese accepts that this new allegation against Fr O’Neill is entirely credible.
In October 2004 a similarly credible allegation of the sexual abuse of a minor had been received by the Diocese of Down and Connor against Fr O’Neill. Following this allegation Fr O’Neill was stepped aside from his ministry in the Parish of Ardkeen, to allow a police investigation to take place.
A statement was drafted by the Diocese at this time but was not issued. This statement would have empowered other victims to come forward. This failure to issue a statement has also compounded the hurt endured by his victims and their families. This omission to issue a public statement is a matter of deep regret by the Diocese.
In December 2005, the Public Prosecution Service directed that there would be no prosecution brought against Fr O’Neill in respect of this earlier allegation. Fr O’Neill remained permanently out of ministry until his death in November 2009.
In addition to the two allegations of the sexual abuse of a minor mentioned above, there were three credible allegations of sexual abuse of adults, manipulation and abuse of power made against Fr O’Neill received by the Diocese in 2003, 2005 and 2006. These allegations relate to the 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s when Fr O’Neill was ministering in Down and Connor. All of these allegations, in relation to adults, were reported to the PSNI.
The Diocese is committed in working to support those individuals who have been abused by Fr O’Neill. I would also extend this support to their families who have been so anguished by the abuse of their loved ones.
On behalf of the Diocese of Down and Connor, I extend my deepest sorrow and unreserved apology to all those who have courageously come forward and to each of their families. I fully accept that no apology can undo the damage, hurt, trauma and pain that has been caused to the victims and their families.
I also extend my deepest sorrow and unreserved apology to anyone who suffered abuse at the hands of a priest of the Diocese in whom they had placed their trust. The Diocese encourages anyone who has concerns, suspicions or allegations of abuse to come forward and to report that abuse to the statutory authorities or to the Diocese of Down and Connor Safeguarding Office on 028 9049 2798.
Support for survivors of abuse:
Towards Healing, the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland, and Towards Peace constitute the pastoral service response to survivors of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in Ireland.
Towards Healing Counselling & Support Services is available to survivors of Church, Religious and Institutional abuse. Towards Healing provides lay independent and fully accredited counsellors to support survivors:
The National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland provides advice on all aspects of case management, including notification of allegations and support for the complainant:
Towards Peace is a service offering spiritual support to survivors of physical emotional or sexual abuse perpetrated by Catholic Church personnel in Ireland:
Update Dec 2024 – Winter 2024 E-Bulletin
The Safeguarding Winter E-Bulletin 2024 is now available
For a Synodal Church- Communion, Participation, Mission
For the past month our Bishop has been attending the synodal consultation and discussions in Rome.
On the 27th October2024, Pope Francis presided over the Synod’s closing mass.
During the mass Pope Francis spoke;
“we cannot remain inert before the questions raised by the women and men of today, before the challenges of our time, the urgency of evangelization and the many wounds that afflict humanity.
“A missionary Church that walks with her Lord through the streets of the world”
See below, a link to the final document of the Synod, please look through it. Could I draw your attention to just one of many elements of this document, Part v – “So I send You” forming a people for Missionary Discipleship.
For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission
This is an all-encompassing document which looks to how our Church is going forward with missionary zeal and prayer.
It will be discussed throughout our Church, our Dioceses and in our Parishes.
From a local perspective, in Down and Connor this journey will be seen and driven by our local diocesan strategy “Pathways to the Future”
SBNI Safeguarding Futures Newsletter
The SBNI are delighted to introduce you to the initial “Safeguarding Futures” newsletter and appreciate you taking the time to read the content. A key element of the newsletter is to promote effective communication with everyone involved in safeguarding children and young people. We hope this newsletter will help raise awareness of Child Exploitation (CE) across various domains.
The current and future editions will provide an update on the collective efforts made to address critical issues underpinning child criminal exploitation. It will also outline the need for and benefits of a co-ordinated and collaborative approach to enhance child protection and safeguarding measures. The newsletter will seek the involvement of SBNI members, partner agencies, community organisations, children and young people and carers to influence future decisions and service delivery. We also hope to share progress on the action plan, disseminate learning and good practice as well as highlight emerging issues.
UPDATE JULY 2024 – National Board Revised Child Protection Policy and Standards
On the 11th June 2024 the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland issued the revised safeguarding policy and standards
This is a significant publication and replaces “Safeguarding Children Policy and Standards for the Catholic Church in Ireland 2016”, the seven standards policy with associated suites of guidance under each of the seven standards, which we all have become familiar with and which has underpinned safeguarding in our Diocese of Down and Connor and across every Dioceses , Religious Orders and ministries with children in the Catholic Church in Ireland.
The publication of this revised policy has been a significant piece of work and has been overseen by a Steering Group with representatives from a number of Dioceses and Religious Orders. The revised policy has been informed by a series of consultation and listening exercises involving dioceses and parishes across Ireland (including listening exercises and consultation within Down and Connor which a number of you were involved in ), groups of young people and engagement with victims and survivors. Statutory Agencies were also involved in this consultation.
I urge you to embrace this revised policy. The fundamental elements of safeguarding within the church do not change ; creating and maintaining safe environments where children and young people can nurtured in their faith, responding to suspicions, concerns, knowledge and allegations in line with legislation and communicating the safeguarding message,
Where there were seven standards with associated suites of guidance there are now three standards with suites of guidance:
The Policy statements Posters in all our Churches and Parish Centres will be changed and the Safeguarding Office will set up three Information Sessions on the revised Policy “A Safe and Welcoming Church, Safeguarding Children Policy and Standards for the Catholic Church in Ireland, 2024, two online and one face to face.
Philip O Hara
Training Sessions 2024-2025
Safeguarding Training Sessions are published on the Training Calendar on our website.
If you wish to book onto one of our sessions you can do so via the training tab on below;
UPDATE JAN 2024 – National Board Review Report
Review of Safeguarding Practice in the Diocese of Down and Connor
The Diocese is publishing the Report of the recent Review of Safeguarding in our Diocese which took place in June 2023.
The publication of the Report marks Safeguarding Sunday 4th February 2024.
Promoting a culture of safeguarding remains a priority for our Church.
The Diocese of Down and Connor is committed to promoting the welfare of all its children and young people and to encouraging their full participation in the life of the Church.
It was important that the voice of victims was heard in this Report.
Could I thank all those Parishes and the Youth Ministry who directly engaged with the Reviewers and our Parish Priests, volunteers and parishioners who continue to service our Parish Safeguarding Committees. The Report highlights your commitment and provides a sound platform from which Parishes can each progress on their journeys and opportunities that Pathways to the Future will bring.
Philip O’Hara
Interim Director for Safeguarding
Update March 2024 – Annual Parish Audit
Thank you to those parishes who have submitted the Audit Return.
The returns made by parishes inform the Bishop’s report to the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland on the Diocese’s compliance with the Standards and Guidance.