Presbyterian Church 'did not keep records of a child sex abuse case'

No records of the incident could be found at the Presbyterian Church in Ireland headquarters in Belfast

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) did not keep records of a child sex abuse case that was reported to ministers years before the church's current crisis, a safeguarding expert has told the BBC.

Ian Elliott said when he tried to find out if the alleged victims from a County Donegal parish had received counselling, no records could be found at PCI headquarters.

The BBC has also seen a document indicating the Church had not reported the case to An Garda Síochána (Irish police) when it was first raised.

The Presbyterian Church said it could not comment due to a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) investigation, but has "openly admitted failures" in its safeguarding procedures.

Ian Elliott advised the PCI in 2023, as part of a previous review panel

Mr Elliott, an internationally recognised expert in safeguarding, told BBC Spotlight Northern Ireland that he was asked by the Church's headquarters to assist with the case in 2015.

At the time a minister told him that an adult member of a congregation in Donegal, who had since died, had abused several children decades earlier, but no action had been taken.

Mr Elliott offered advice, which included reporting the incident to police, but did not consult further as he was not asked to by the Church, and was working internationally.

He did raise the case again in 2023, when he joined a PCI safeguarding panel, but no records of the case could be found.

"That was shocking. And that really rang alarm bells for me," Mr Elliott said.

He added that one of the emails from a minister in Donegal said that "we realise now that these matters have been completely mismanaged, and this information should have been shared with the appropriate authorities, and was not".

BBC News NI has been told the case was eventually reported to Gardaí (Irish police), although it is unclear when that happened.

Dr Jacqui Montgomery-Devlin was head of safeguarding at the Presbyterian church for five years

Dr Jacqui Montgomery-Devlin, who was the Church's safeguarding officer in 2023, said said "there was nothing that I could see relating to that case at all," when Mr Elliott raised the case again.

"There were no records to to suggest that that ever happened."

Mr Elliott then wrote two warnings to the Church, saying it could face criminal and civil liabilities over its handling of sex abuse cases.

In memos seen by BBC Spotlight Northern Ireland, Mr Elliott wrote to Rev Trevor Gribben in 2023, who was at that time the Clerk of the General Assembly, responsible for the day to day running of the church.

In the note, he said the church's failure to keep records of abuse cases could lead to it being "considered guilty of serious neglect".

He also claimed he received no response from Rev Gribben.

In a statement, on behalf of the church and Rev Gribben, the PCI said it would not comment on matters relating to the PSNI investigation.

Rev Gribben resigned after saying "people have been placed at risk" due to failings between 2009 and 2022

Rev Gribben resigned as Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in November.

Reverend Dr Richard Murray was installed as the new moderator on Monday.

In 2024 Mr Elliott wrote another warning to the Church's safeguarding panel – saying that if the church failed to report abuse cases to police "we are liable for prosecution".

He resigned from the panel shortly afterwards.

In its statement last month the Church admitted it has "failed to make referrals to statutory authorities when these were required".

The PSNI then announced a criminal investigation over the safeguarding failures.

An Garda Síochána told Spotlight it had been liaising with the PSNI in relation to the investigation into the PCI failings.

Encouraging victims to come forward, it said it would deal with complainants in a sensitive manner and, where possible, would investigate.

However, a statement added there may be limitations to actions which can be taken due to issues including the availability of evidence over time, and suspects or witnesses being deceased.

'Systems haven't worked'

Rev Dr Norman Hamilton served as Presbyterian Moderator in 2010/11

Speaking for the first time since the safeguarding failures came to light, former Presbyterian moderator, Rev Dr Norman Hamilton said allegations of abuse were not new to him.

However, he said he felt he dealt with them well by reporting incidents to police, and offering assistance.

Acknowledging the harm, damage and distress caused to victims, he said the culture in the church, going back a long time, was that there was a "low level of awareness of what the proper procedures were".

"I really struggle to say this," he told BBC Spotlight Northern Ireland.

"There was not an awareness of the need for a rigorous, victim centred, multi-dimensional, pastoral response."

Rev Dr Hamilton also encouraged victims to seek help, but said major reforms would be needed within the Church.

"I am troubled - (that) the governance systems in our church haven't worked, that the accountability mechanisms haven't worked, that the multiple layers of committees and councils haven't worked."

He added that people "would just love there to be clarity and a rebuilding of confidence in the ministry of the Presbyterian church generally."