Probe into clerical abuse proposed
A state inquiry into the extent of clerical child abuse should be considered, Michael McGimpsey said
A state inquiry to discover the extent of historic institutional and clerical child abuse in Northern Ireland should be considered, Stormont's health minister has told Executive colleagues.
As damaging allegations continue to rock the Catholic Church across Ireland, Michael McGimpsey proposed an investigation north of the border similar to those that already have unearthed a litany of past crimes in the Republic.
Setting up an inquiry was one of a number of options included in a paper Mr McGimpsey forwarded to the power-sharing cabinet on ways forward for dealing with historical abuse in Northern Ireland.
The document was handed to fellow ministers as the Catholic Church, and particularly Cardinal Sean Brady, continued to come under fire for the handling of abuse allegations that saw victims sign confidentiality deals.
Pope Benedict will sign a much-anticipated pastoral letter to congregations in Ireland outlining his strategy for dealing with the crisis in the Church.
"The issues involved here are extensive and complex and I have sought to reflect that complexity in the paper," Mr McGimpsey said.
"Our intention is to ensure that in meeting the needs of victims - whether by issuing apologies, establishing inquiries or setting up new compensation arrangements - that no victims are left behind.
"Important choices will now have to be made but I believe that action must be taken to address the pain and distress caused to so many victims."
Recent probes in the Republic of Ireland have investigated historical allegations of abuse in state and church-run industrial schools and clerical abuse within particular dioceses.
Press Association
