Member's statement: Presbyterian Church in Ireland: Safeguarding Failings
Member's statement by Ms Connie Egan on .
- MLA
- Ms Connie Egan
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 17 November 2025
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Presbyterian Church in Ireland: Safeguarding Failings
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5245033
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I rise today to speak with grave concern about the recent news regarding the confirmed serious and significant failings in the central safeguarding functions of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland in the period from 2009 to 2022. That announcement arrives following a report on allegations of bullying and harassment that was commissioned by Lord John Alderdice, who was a member of the Presbyterian Church until 2018. Lord Alderdice commissioned that report, and it was submitted to the Charity Commission. It outlined allegations of members being shunned and gaslit by Church leadership and the mental health concerns among ministers across the Church.
Yesterday, a statement was read out to Presbyterian congregations across this island that informed Church members of an investigation and review of previous handling of safeguarding issues at an Assembly Buildings level. The results of that review are highly concerning. It found failures to make referrals to statutory authorities; inadequate responses to concerns expressed about individuals and congregations; and ineffective monitoring of offenders who sought to return to worship at church. The statement also contained an apology for the betrayal of trust and the hurt caused by the failure to take action. The statement followed the resignation of Presbyterian moderator, Rev Trevor Gribben, last week. He is the first moderator to have stepped down in the Church's history. It has been greatly disappointing to discover the failings. In any organisation, safeguarding concerns must be treated with the utmost seriousness. In considering this specific case, places of religious worship and faith are where so many seek comfort and support, particularly those who are vulnerable. For so many, that trust has now been put into question — for some, it has been broken. It is essential that, in any future process, victims are protected and at the heart of any decisions. I hope that all organisations across our society, whether religious, community, sporting or other, reflect on their own policies and safeguards. My thoughts are, of course, with the victims. I encourage anybody who wishes to make a disclosure to come forward and contact the police or Victim Support NI.
349 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.06 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- Subject area: Religion and belief (including people of no religion), churches, faith communities and religious prejudice (including antisemitism and anti-Muslim prejudice).
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.04 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.05 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.05 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.52 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.06 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Religion and belief (including people of no religion), churches, faith communities and religious prejudice (including antisemitism and anti-Muslim prejudice) | 1.00 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.00 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
| Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 13:47 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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