A Dromore-based group comprising survivors of clerical sexual abuse from the Diocese of Dromore, and their families has welcomed the decision of the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland to stand down from his role.
The Dromore Group – which aims to raise awareness and understanding of clerical sexual abuse, supports survivors and those in the process of litigation and provides advocacy and advisory inputs to government and other bodies working on clerical sexual abuse – described Rev. Trevor Gribben’s decision to stand down on November 12 as a “first step in ensuring accountability for the safeguarding failures of his Church”.
In a statement provided to Armagh I, the Group said: “The Presbyterian Church of Ireland is not alone in its safeguarding failures.
“A 2023 safeguarding report at the Catholic Diocese of Dromore by the National Board for Safeguarding of Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland inexplicably excluded two safeguarding failures.
“The Dromore Group provided verifiable evidence on the two safeguarding failures to the Board’s independent experts (David Douglas, Brian Morgan) during their consultation and research phase which involved engagement with clerical abuse survivors and other stakeholders.
“The two safeguarding failures were: September 2022: provision of character references by two Dromore priests to a sentencing court for a convicted lay paedophile. Both priests are former staff of St. Colman’s College, Newry, where schoolboys witnessed significant clerical sexual abuse in the 1970s/80s.
“February 2023: victim-blaming by a senior Dromore clergyman of a man sexually abused as a boy by a Dromore priest (Fr. Malachy Finegan).
“Since November 2023, the Dromore Group has repeatedly engaged with the Catholic safeguarding board and its lead safeguarding expert (David Douglas) for answers as to why the safeguarding failures at the Diocese of Dromore were omitted in the 2023 safeguarding report.
“No explanations have been provided.”
The Dromore Group say they also engaged with the Safeguarding Board of Northern Ireland where Mr. David Douglas is a Board member.
“It sought this Board’s support in getting to an understanding as to why Mr. Douglas excluded Dromore Diocese safeguarding failures from his report,” added the Group.
“The Safeguarding Board of Northern Ireland has failed to comment on Mr. Douglas’ report. The Dromore Group continues to be concerned by cover-up by the Diocese of Dromore of those responsible for child sexual abuse as well as those aware of that abuse and who failed to respect the mandatory reporting requirements (Section 5, Criminal Law Act, 1967, NI).
“The decision by the Catholic safeguarding board to exclude safeguarding failures from the Dromore 2023 report raises further concerns as to cover-up of safeguarding failures in the Catholic Church.
“The Dromore Group stresses the importance of truth, transparency and accountability by Church and public safeguarding agencies in their dealings with clerical sexual abuse survivors and calls on all safeguarding bodies to take a trauma-informed approach in all dealings with survivors; reiterates its call for an independent public inquiry into clerical sexual abuse (all faiths) following the recommendations by independent safeguarding and other experts submitted to Northern Ireland’s First and Deputy First Ministers in July 2025.”
The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Rev Dr Trevor Gribben, made the following statement at a news conference in Assembly Buildings, Belfast on November 12.
Speaking at the news conference, the Moderator said: “Following an internal investigation and report, it has become clear that there have been serious and significant failings in the central safeguarding functions of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland from the period 2009 to 2022. As a result of this, people have been placed at risk. We are aware of a number of people who have been harmed, and we believe there may well be others as yet unknown to us. We apologise unreservedly for this.
“The Church’s first and greatest concern about this is for those people who have suffered harm, and those who have been put at risk. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland profoundly regrets this, is deeply grieved, and will offer all possible support to those affected. My colleague, Dr Bruce, will speak more about this shortly.
“Although not directly responsible for the professional delivery of safeguarding within the Church, nonetheless serious and significant failings in our central safeguarding functions occurred partly during my tenure as General Secretary. In light of this, I have decided it would be best at this time for me to step aside from my current role as Moderator of the General Assembly, the Church’s chief public representative. I have therefore informed the Church’s General Council, and Charity Trustees, that I intend to stand down from the office of Moderator of the General Assembly at the end of this month, thus giving time to make arrangements for these duties to be fulfilled by others.”
“In addition, I have asked, and been given permission to retire from my employed role as Clerk of the Assembly and General Secretary. This will allow others to take forward all of the steps that my colleague Dr Bruce will shortly outline.
“I have made these decisions and taken these steps with the deepest personal regret that our central failings have caused such harm to those who deserve our protection the most.
“My colleague, Dr Bruce, will make a further statement.”
