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Survivors of sexual abuse within Northern Ireland’s churches have expressed growing dissatisfaction with the Stormont Executive’s approach to addressing their concerns. In a letter addressed to the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, these survivors highlighted an “emerging crisis of confidence” due to the apparent lack of action following research completed earlier this year. Despite three reports being commissioned by the Northern Ireland Executive to assess whether a public inquiry is warranted, none of the findings have yet been published after several months.
The commissioned reports cover a range of areas, including survivor testimonies from various “faith settings” such as churches and religious schools, the examination of historical documents, and an evaluation of safeguarding policies within faith-based institutions. The delay in publishing and acting upon these reports has deeply frustrated survivors, particularly in light of recent disclosures regarding abuse within the Presbyterian Church, Northern Ireland’s largest Protestant denomination. Survivors are urging the Executive Office to promptly implement all of the recommended measures stemming from the research without further postponement.
In their letter, survivors voiced disappointment over the absence of decisive political leadership at the highest levels, questioning why no progress has been made despite widespread acknowledgement of the issue. Nikella Holmes, a survivor who endured abuse from a youth leader named Gary Thompson—who was convicted and jailed last year—emphasized the courage shown by survivors who participated in the research. Holmes expressed her dismay at the current lack of clarity or timetable for moving forward, saying: “It’s really disheartening, and it feels like we as survivors have been left behind.” She highlighted that the ongoing nature of recent abuse revelations shows these failures are not simply historical matters but remain pressing today.
Tony Gribben, another abuse survivor who suffered at the hands of Catholic priest Malachy Finnegan, described the collective mood among survivors as “livid” over the stalled decision-making process. As founder of the Dromore Group, involved since 2021 in addressing clerical sexual abuse, Gribben stressed that survivors had participated in the project “in good faith” with the hope of preventing further harm to children. He warned that failing to act on the independent researchers’ recommendations “generates exponential risk for the next generation of children.” In response, a spokesperson for the Executive Office stated that ministers continue to review the reports and have met with the Chair of the Interdepartmental Working Group to discuss the findings, while junior ministers remain engaged with survivors to listen to their experiences and perspectives
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