Former head of child abuse audit may sue bishop

Ian Elliott, who retired as chief executive of the Catholic Church's National Board for Safeguarding Children (NBSC) last July, has challenged findings of a child protection audit in Down and Connor diocese and is considering a legal action against its bishop.

Published on December 10th, the audit found that the diocese had produced an “excellent result” in fully meeting 46 of the 48 criteria for protecting children, with the two other standards partially met. The audit, attributed to the NBSC, was led by Mr Elliott over four days in the diocese last May.

However, as published, its findings "do not reflect the findings from the fieldwork," Mr Elliott said yesterday. Such were his concerns at what he found last May that, after the first two days there, he met and reported to Bishop of Down and Connor Noel Treanor and NBSC chairman John Morgan. "I made them directly aware of the findings," he said yesterday. "I am deeply concerned at attempts by the diocese to attribute that review [audit] to me."

Mr Elliott and his solicitor Paul Tweed met Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald on February 26th to brief her on the situation.

Legal correspondence
Since publication of the audit he has been in legal correspondence with Bishop Treanor. Mr Tweed said there had been "no satisfactory response" to the correspondence, in which specific concerns about the published audit were spelled out.

Bishop Treanor said yesterday the audit “was undertaken and prepared by the national board team, including independent professional reviewers. Any questions regarding its contents and integrity should be referred to the national board. I wish to assure all and society at large that in the matter of safeguarding, the diocese of Down and Connor is fully open, transparent and engages fully with the national board and the statutory sector and will continue to do so.”

An NBSC spokesman said “the allegations made by Ian Elliott appear to question the professionalism and integrity of our board, our CEO and our staff. Consequently, we are seeking legal advice regarding our options and will make no further comment at this time.”

A spokeswoman for Ms Fitzgerald confirmed she met Mr Elliott. Since then she had corresponded with the NBSC which had replied that her letter would be raised at its March meeting. She welcomed its “early consideration of the matter.”