GARDAÍ ARE to examine allegations against Irish missionaries in Africa of child sex abuse made this week in an RTÉ television programme.
Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan has referred the allegations made in the Prime Time Investigatesprogramme on Monday to Det Supt John McCann of the Garda Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Investigation Unit for examination.
Announcing this yesterday, Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said Mr Callinan “shares my concern at the revelations in the programme”. In particular, Det Supt McCann would “examine whether any criminal behaviour was disclosed which can be pursued in this jurisdiction”.
The Minister said “in addition, the gardaí are liaising with the HSE about any child protection issues that arise in this jurisdiction from the presence here of a number of persons identified in the programme”. He had been assured “that the gardaí will, of course, co-operate with their counterparts in other jurisdictions in any investigations they carry out”.
In an effort to dampen “any unrealistic expectations about what can be achieved” he pointed out that “investigations and bringing prosecutions in relation to offences carried out abroad are, of their nature, very difficult”.
He shared “the widespread public concern and disgust at the revelations which the programme contained...we have a solemn duty to do all that is within our power to ensure that perpetrators of this predatory abuse of children are brought to justice wherever it takes place”. He said that under Irish law “in certain circumstances persons can be tried here for sexual offences against a child which are committed abroad”.
In a statement issued on Monday night to coincide with the programme, the Irish Missionary Union, which represents 83 Irish missionary congregations, said their “thoughts and concerns are first and foremost with any individuals who have suffered abuse in Ireland or abroad”.
They condemned “unreservedly any crimes of abuse or inappropriate behaviour at home or abroad which led to children or vulnerable adults being abused”.
They said “at this time there are some 1,080 Irish-born missionaries working in Africa; over half of these are women”.
“They are making a massive contribution to education and health programmes and working with local people on various development projects...”
The One in Four group said it had been inundated with phone calls following the programme which had “provoked a huge reaction from Irish people and from Africans living in Ireland”.
Executive director Maeve Lewis said its content was “sickeningly recognisable and told the same story that we are so familiar with in Ireland: vulnerable children being targeted and abused by priests and brothers while the Catholic authorities deny the abuse and protect the sex offenders”.
