The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Ireland
Safeguarding Policy and ProceduresStatement from the Provincial of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Fr Joseph McGee MSC November 30th 2011
On November 29th 2011 the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart received our report from the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland with regard to the management of allegations of child sexual abuse matters within the Society. We requested this review in August 2011. As there are on-going enquiries by An Garda Siochana and the Health Service Executive in regard to allegations received against members of the Society it would not be appropriate to publish any information at this time. We will continue to co-operate fully with all necessary enquiries. The report does include seven recommendations, most of which we have implemented already and the remainder will be fully implemented in the coming months. The National Board has indicated that they will return in June 2012 to review our procedures and our implementation of the Board’s recommendations. We welcome this. The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart ask that any other persons who wish to come forward with allegations of abuse by members of the Society to do so and to report to the Gardaí and the HSE. Our Delegate, (person dealing with allegations on behalf of the Society) can be contacted as follows. Ms. Saoirse Fox, Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, 65 Terenure Road West, Dublin. Mobile: +353 86 3441707 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Irrespective of any legal processes which are on-going we are more than willing to meet with and assist people who have made or who wish to make allegations. Contact details are available on this website under Safeguarding. We also invite people to contact the independent and confidential counselling service Towards Healing - www.towardshealing.ie Freephone 1800 303416 (Rep. of Ireland) Freephone 0800 0963315 (Northern Ireland and UK) Ms Jacqui Deevy is the Health Service Executive child care manager responsible for all allegations in relation to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. Her email address is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Preamble The latest Policy and Procedures for Safeguarding Children in Ireland were approved by the Provincial in Council during the Provincial Council meeting of June 14 and 15, 2010. The procedures are based on Safeguarding Children, Standards and Guidance Document for the Catholic Church in Ireland to which the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart is fully committed, having signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding with the National Board. Similar policies and procedures are in place in the other territories of the Province in accordance with local requirements and norms. The Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart undertakes to do all in its power to create a safe environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults. The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart will liaise closely with the statutory agencies to ensure that any allegations of abuse are promptly and properly dealt with, victims supported and perpetrators held to account.
PolicyWe, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in the Irish Province, value and encourage the participation of children and young people in our liturgies and in activities that enhance their spiritual, physical, emotional and social development. We recognize the dignity and rights of all children and are committed to their protection and support. In keeping with this we will work to do all in our power to create safe environments for children and young people in order to secure their protection and enable their full participation in the life of the Church.
DeclarationThrough its signing of a MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING with the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church, dated the 4th of April 2009, the Provincial and Council of the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart “ … agree to adhere to ‘SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN, Standards and Guidance Document for the Catholic Church in Ireland’ (24th February 2009) and such other supplementary documents as may be issued by the Company from time to time … ”.
Reporting Procedure Child abuse of whatever kind is a sin and a crime and we request that all complaints of abuse against personnel connected with the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart - MSCs, employees or volunteers - be reported immediately to the MSC Child Protection Representative or directly to the local police and statutory authorities.
Contact DetailsTo make a complaint or report concerns about any MSC or person working with/for the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, please contact the Child Safeguarding Designated Person for the MSC Congregation in the following parts of the Province:
Ireland and Russia: Ms. Saoirse Fox, Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, 65 Terenure Road West, Dublin, Ireland. Mobile: +353 86 3441707 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Ms Saoirse Fox was employed by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) in October 2011 in the role of Child Protection Delegate. Saoirse’s professional background is in social care specifically working with young people in special care in Ireland, a detention centre and residential care. She has spent the previous four years as manager of a children’s residential home. Saoirse has a BA in Psychology from Trinity College Dublin and is also a qualified family therapist. The role of delegate or designated officer is defined in the document, Safeguarding Children: Standards and Guidance Document for the Catholic Church in Ireland. In this role Saoirse is responsible for hearing any concerns relating to safeguarding of children. This may involve hearing disclosures and allegations of abuse and then coordinating the response to those individuals who have made the disclosure. This includes beginning a preliminary internal inquiry, reporting the matter to the Gardaí and HSE, and the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church. In managing any subsequent internal investigations she will comply fully with all statutory requirements. She will ensure people who have raised safeguarding issues are kept informed if they wish this to be the case. All of the above is recorded and held securely. The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart endeavour to develop and maintain strong working relationships with the Health Service Executive, An Garda Siochana and the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the process of child protection and safeguarding. The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are determined to ensure that a victim focussed approach is taken to all allegations of abuse made against members of the society and that we reach out to those people making allegations in a supportive manner.
United Kingdom: Rev. Alan Whelan MSC Princethorpe College Princethorpe Nr Rugby Warwickshire CV23 9PX England Telephone: +44 1926 634240
USA Section: Rev. Bill Collins MSC 314 Merida St, San Antonio, Texas 78207 USA Telephone: +1 210 225 2986
South Africa: Mrs. Carine Van Riet. P.O. Box 8042 Halfway House 1685 South Africa Telephone: +27 76 156 7124.
Venezuela: Rev. Joe Ruddy MSC Misioneros del Sagrado Corazon Apartado 15006 Galerias Maracaibo 4005 Edo. Zulia Venezuela Telephone: +58 261 7549480
Individual PoliciesThe individual Safeguarding Policies and Procedures for the various parts of the Irish Province can de downloaded as pdf files here:
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