Commission of Investigation

Catholic Diocese of Cloyne

 

Terms of Reference

 

A Commission of Investigation is established to:

(i) select a representative sample of complaints or allegations of child sexual abuse made to the diocesan and other Catholic Church authorities and public and State authorities in the period 1 January 1996 to 1 February 2009 against Catholic clergy operating under the aegis of that diocese,

(ii) consider whether the response to those complaints or allegations was adequate or appropriate,

(iii) in the case of complaints or allegations being examined, examine and report also on the nature of the response to any other complaints or allegations made by the complainant or against the person in respect of whom those complaints or allegations were made, including any such complaints or allegations made before 1 January 1996,

(iv) select a representative sample of cases where the diocesan and other Catholic Church authorities had in the period 1 January 1996 to 1 February 2009 knowledge of or strong and clear suspicion of or reasonable concern regarding sexual abuse involving Catholic clergy operating under the aegis of that diocese,

(v) establish the response of the diocesan and other Catholic Church authorities to those sample cases, and

(vi) establish the levels of communication that prevailed between the diocesan and other Catholic Church authorities and public and State authorities with regard to those sample complaints, allegations, knowledge, reasonable concern or strong and clear suspicion;”.

The Statutory Instrument (S.I. No. 117 of 2009), containing the Terms of Reference is available by clicking here