Debate contribution: Clerical Child Abuse

Debate contribution by Mrs Pam Cameron on 27 January 2026.

MLA

Mrs Pam Cameron

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

27 January 2026

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Clerical Child Abuse

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5345120

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Our party supports the motion and the amendment. It is incredibly important that the records are preserved, so the DUP is content to support the amendment. This is a deeply sensitive and distressing issue, and it is vital that our focus remains firmly on the victims and survivors of clerical child abuse — people who were profoundly failed by institutions that should have protected them. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to engage with victims and survivors in my previous role as a junior Minister in the Executive Office, and I recognise the courage that it took to speak out about the often unspeakable experiences that too many endured. For many survivors, the harm did not end when the abuse ended; it was compounded by years of silence and denial and a lack of accountability. That lasting trauma must be recognised honestly in the Chamber. The three independent research projects commissioned by the Executive Office marked an important step forward. They examined how institutions responded to allegations, recorded the lived experiences and expectations of victims and survivors and reviewed the safeguarding policies of faith organisations. I place on record my sincere gratitude to the victims and survivors who took part. Coming forward to share deeply personal experiences of abuse takes immense courage, and no one should underestimate the emotional toll that that process involves. I also pay tribute to the survivors' reference group and other campaigners, whose persistence and determination ensured that those voices were heard and that the issue could not be ignored or quietly set aside. While that work has been completed, victims and survivors deserve clarity about what happens next. They deserve transparency, consistent engagement and confidence that their experiences are shaping outcomes. Let me be clear: this is not about delaying action, nor is it about avoiding difficult decisions. It is imperative that the next steps are the right steps, and our collective response must be victim-centred and trauma-informed. The focus must be on getting this right, not on creating quick headlines. The recommendations under consideration will, no doubt, raise serious and complex questions, including on their scope, access to records, their cost and, crucially, their impact on victims and survivors. That is particularly true on the question of a public inquiry. That is a decision that should never be taken lightly, but, equally, victims must not feel forgotten while deliberations continue. Ongoing communication and meaningful engagement are essential, and survivors must be kept informed throughout the process. The issue should never be politicised. I believe that Members across the House recognise the responsibility that we carry. In supporting the motion and the amendment, our objective is clear: ensuring that the response delivers truth, accountability and meaningful outcomes for victims and survivors. As we all know, the victims and survivors have waited long enough, and they deserve nothing less.

475 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:21 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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