Congregations and missionary societies struggle to reach acceptable safeguarding standards

The review of the Presentation Brothers found that 54 abuse allegations have been made against 28 members (one unnamed) since January 1st, 1975, with none convicted in the courts. Of the 28, 16 are deceased and four have left the congregation. Of the remaining eight Brothers, two are out of ministry, four are retired, and one returned to ministry following advice from the National Case Management Reference Group.

It determined that he did not present a risk to children.

Three of the seven known living Brothers are subject to strict management plans and live in community residences. Claims against the third Brother are being investigated. The reviewers expressed themselves “satisfied that the Presentation Brothers now understand their obligations to report and respond to allegations of abuse, whilst acknowledging previous delays”.

The reviewers also met with “three survivors from Greenmount Industrial School”, at the survivors’ request. It was “fair to reflect that they are not happy with the response given by the Presentation Brothers” and suggested “it may be useful for the province leader to consider appointing an independent support person for this group of survivors”.

It concluded that now “safeguarding is a priority for the Presentation Brothers”.

None of the 15 Patrician Brothers who have faced 22 abuse allegations since January 1st, 1975, has been convicted, the review found. Of the 15 Brothers, “nine are deceased and five have left the congregation. One remains in the congregation”. The five who left, did so “in excess of 30 years ago and have had no subsequent contact with the congregation. In all cases the allegations were made some considerable time after they had left,” it said.

"Whilst the current record establishes that all of the allegations have been reported to the civil authorities, the reviewers note that, in 2013, the congregation carried out a full review of its files and engaged in a full re-reporting exercise to ensure all the historical allegations were in the hands of both An Garda Síochána and the HSE childcare services," it said. "The Patrician Brothers committed to the NBSCCCI safeguarding standards in 2008 and cases coming to their attention since then have been reported promptly."

Court conviction
Twelve priests at the Missionary Society of St Columban faced 41 allegations since January 1st, 1975, with one convicted in the courts, the review found. "The vast majority of the allegations on file (24 in total, with three which are indeterminate) refer to PM, who was a Columban priest from 1960 until his suspension from the Society in 2000. PM had served as a priest in Ireland, in Japan and in the UK."

PM is Patrick Maguire who was convicted a number of times in the UK and Ireland. He resides under strict supervision at the Columban's Dalgan Park in Co Meath. He also featured in the 2009 Murphy report. Of the remaining 17 allegations "eight refer to five living priests and nine to a total of six deceased priests".