‘We must learn from past mistakes, or we will be doomed to repeat them’ - Patrick Corrigan 

Amnesty International has written to Northern Ireland’s First Minister and deputy First Minister supporting victims and survivors’ calls for a public inquiry into clerical child abuse, and for new safeguarding measures recommended in a report commissioned by the Northern Ireland Executive. 

Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland director of Amnesty International, who is also a member of the Reference Group on Historical Clerical Child Abuse established by the Executive, said: 

“After years of work, a report bringing together findings of three separate research projects into clerical child abuse has been with the First and deputy First Minister since July. 

“Victims and survivors, who courageously shared their stories of abuse with researchers appointed by the Executive, are now frustrated at the lack of political action. 

“The report contains clear recommendations – agreed by all the victims, researchers and officials involved – including safeguarding measures and a public inquiry into failings by church and state. We must learn from past mistakes, or we will be doomed to repeat them. 

“The recent revelations from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland show that clerical abuse and catastrophic safeguarding failures in faith settings are not historic issues but are very real current concerns that continue to put children at risk. 

“We are asking Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly to act on these recommendations without delay and to work directly with victims and survivors on how they will be implemented.”