Presbyterian Church in Ireland safeguarding crisis: Church will select experts to do bullk of work for statutory Charity Commission inquiry
The Presbyterian Church will select the members of the panel which will conduct the bulk of the work for the Charity Commission's statutory inquiry into its governance and safeguarding failures, it has been confirmed.
One safeguarding expert says this feels much too like church being allowed to "mark its own homework".
However the commission says it will closely review the independence of every candidate and their work - and that the practise is entirely normal in charity regulation. Then Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) Rev Trevor Gribben resigned in November, when an internal review found “serious and significant failings” in central safeguarding functions from 2009 to 2022.
The PSNI launched a major investigation, and this week reported receiving 101 "referrals" of issues to investigate.
The Charity Commission has also opened a statutory inquiry.
Yesterday the church confirmed the commission had asked it to select its own expert panel to review its governance and safeguarding.
The commission has now confirmed that it was free to choose the experts, but asked the church to do so - which it says is normal practise.
The News Letter asked if the church selecting the panel does not present an opportunity for undue influence by the church?
The commission replied that it "must be satisfied that the panel is independent, appropriately qualified and suitable before the review can proceed".
The News Letter asked whether the commission was free to select the panel.
It replied: "While the Commission could have selected the panel directly, we believe that the best outcome for the charity is if they can show that they are taking the issues seriously and are willing to take ownership of the review."
Asked what steps its takes to ensure that the panel is truly independent, the commission replied that it will "assess the independence and suitability of each panel member by considering any connections with the charity, its leadership or the matters under review, along with their expertise and professional background".
The News Letter also put it to the commission that while it is closely overseeing the statutory inquiry, it is clear that the church-selected experts will be doing "all the heavy lifting".
The commission replied: "That is correct – the appointed panel will undertake the review work. The Commission will maintain oversight of the independence and quality of this work throughout the process."
If not satisfied with the independence, standard or depth of the review, it will require the panel to make changes.
It said it is "normal regulatory practice" for a charity to select experts to review its failings; For example, where concerns arise about a charity’s finances, the Commission may require it to commission a forensic review of accounts.
But independent safeguarding consultant Leigh McFarlane said the church selecting the panel to review its own failings "does not sound fit for purpose".
She added: "To me it feels like the church is essentially marking its own homework, which is why we need Stormont to hold a full statutory inquiry - something Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has said he would do".
However, she argued that it must be widened beyond the Presbyterian church, noting that victims of clerical sex abuse from all denominations are currently lobbying the First and Deputy First Minister for a full statutory public inquiry.