The Catholic Church's Working Group on Child Protection has been disbanded after a heated row with church representatives over whether professionals or church leaders should decide how sex-abuse complaints are handled.
It is understood the church representatives believe such control must rest with church leaders.
The working group, chaired by Ms Maureen Lynott, was set up in May 2003 by the Irish bishops, CORI and the Irish Missionary Union "to develop a comprehensive and integrated child protection policy for the Irish Catholic Church". She had previously chaired the body which prepared State guidelines for child protection.
The working group had prepared a draft of recommendations by May last. Serious differences arose over these with the church steering committee, representing the sponsors. On Thursday the working group agreed to disband. In a letter to the church steering committee they said they were "greatly dismayed and disappointed that we have arrived at this point".
It is understood Ms Lynott indicated she would be available to meet the steering group should they develop a resolution to current differences. Mr Paul Bailey, director of the Child Protection Office at Maynooth, said last night: "The working group has concluded its work. However, the chairperson has reserved the right to recall members."
The director of One in Four, Mr Colm O'Gorman, said last night: "The fact that bishops and congregation leaders appear to continue to value power, privilege and position above the safety of children is incomprehensible."
Members of the group were Ms Lynott, Sister Martina Barrett and Father David Smith of CORI; Father Hugh Connolly, a theologian; Mgr John Crowley, representing the National Conference of Priests of Ireland; the Deputy Garda Commissioner, Mr Patrick O'Toole; Mr Kevin McCoy, retired chief social service inspector for Northern Ireland; Sister Evelyn Greene, a counsellor; Ms Kay Hyden and Ms Gemma Rowley of the Bishops' Child Protection Committee; a canon lawyer, Father Michael Mullaney; a health board worker, Ms Suzanne Phelan; a victim of clerical child abuse, Ms Marie Collins; and Mr Mick Waters of SOCA UK.
The church steering committee members are Bishop Colm O'Reilly, Bishop John McAreavey, Bishop Ray Fields, Father Micheal Drennan and Sister Helena O'Donoghue of CORI, Father Con Casey and Father Thomas Murphy of the IMU, and Mr John Morgan of the Bishops' Child Protection Office.