Overview
- An internal investigation found serious and significant failings in central safeguarding between 2009 and 2022, with people placed at risk and some harmed.
- Dr Trevor Gribben will leave the moderator post at the end of the month and retire from his employed roles of Clerk of the Assembly and General Secretary.
- Identified breakdowns included missed referrals to statutory authorities, inadequate responses to concerns, weak monitoring of offenders returning to worship, and major gaps in record-keeping.
- The PSNI says it is in active discussions with the church to support those wishing to report abuse, and at least one individual is under investigation.
- The church set up dedicated phone and email contacts for potential victims, as the Safeguarding Board’s chair urged external support and stronger governance to rebuild trust.