Debate contribution: Historical Clerical Child Abuse: Next Steps
Debate contribution by Ms Aisling Reilly on .
- MLA
- Ms Aisling Reilly
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 24 November 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Historical Clerical Child Abuse: Next Steps
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5254134
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Clerical child abuse has had a devastating impact. I express our deepest sympathies to and solidarity with all victims and survivors of that terrible abuse. Throughout the process, previous junior Minister Cameron and I have engaged with victims and survivors to hear their stories and their views on what is needed. Junior Minister Bunting and I will continue to do that. We are very grateful to all those who participated in the process and shared their experiences. Work has been completed on three separate pieces of research: one of which examined records held by faith organisations and statutory agencies; one recorded experiences and expectations of victims and survivors; and one examined the safeguarding policies and practices of faith groups. We have received the research reports and are giving them careful consideration. On 10 November, the First Minister and deputy First Minister met Lisa Caldwell, the independent chair of the interdepartmental working group (IDWG), to discuss the reports and the IDWG recommendations. Officials continue to engage with victims and survivors, whose views we will take into account as we move forward. Our deliberations on the reports continue, and no decisions on next steps have been made. The research has highlighted the importance of current-day safeguarding practice. We note that the PSNI has announced that it has launched a criminal investigation and established a dedicated team following safeguarding concerns at the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. As it is a live investigation, we would not want to say anything that might prejudice it. However, we reiterate the PSNI's appeal for any victims and survivors to come forward, and we trust that everyone will cooperate fully with the investigation.
275 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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