Victims and survivors of clerical abuse must be given clarity on next steps, says Bradshaw

Alliance TEO spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has reiterated calls from victims and survivors of clerical abuse for the First Minister and deputy First Minister to provide clarity on how they intend to deal with the recommendations in their department's commissioned research into historic clerical child abuse.

Paula Bradshaw TEO

Ms Bradshaw, who chairs the Committee for the Executive Office, has said: "Through engagement with victims and survivors, it's evident to me that many share my frustration at the lack of urgency in progressing the research's recommendations relating to safeguarding, and I sincerely hope that departmental officials are working at pace to investigate the most expedient way that they can be implemented.
"I have been raising the need for urgency around this research continuously at committee, including yesterday (19 Nov), where I'm glad to have gotten agreement for a letter to be sent asking for clarity on next steps.
"It is imperative that the long-awaited research is published and that the general public is given confidence that this issue is receiving the pressing attention it desires. The victims and survivors who contributed to the reports have bravely stepped forward in the hope that improvements would be made in protecting and safeguarding young and vulnerable people. We cannot let them down."