Best Practice

Child Protection Committee:

The following are the members of the Child Protection Committee:

Fr. Pat Malone, Christine Lamass, Elizabeth McKeever, Margaret Lee, Fr. Tim O'Brien, Tess O'Kennedy, Shirley Ward, Michael Culhane and Pat Grace.

Diocesan co-delegates:

The role of the delegates is to oversee Diocesan polices, respond in regard to child protection issues and handle complaints about alleged offences against children by Priests, Church workers or volunteers in the Diocese.  The co-delegates are intended to be the main point of contact for anyone wishing to make a complaint.  They brief the Advisory Panel about each complaint received as required.  Appropriate training is available for all persons serving as co-delegates.

The co-delegates appointed by the Bishop of the Diocese of Killaloe are:-

Christine Lemass, Tyonne, Nenagh
Rev Pat Malone, Maryville, Church Road Nenagh

Support Person:

The support person is a lay member of the Child Protection Committee whose role is to be available to those who state that they have suffered abuse and to their families.  They assist and facilitate the Complainant in gaining access to information and will represent their concerns on an ongoing basis.  The co-delegates will be responsible for putting the support person in contact with the Complainant.

The Support Person is Shirely Ward.

The Child Protection Committee will make a contact/support person available to persons against whom allegations are made while their case is being processed.

Advisory Panel:

This group of people work separately from and independently of the Child Protection Committee and are called on to advise the Bishop in respect of particular complaints that are made against Priests, Church workers or volunteers in the Diocese.  The Panel is made up of a Psychologist, a Social Worker, a Canon Lawyer and a Civil Lawyer.

Child Protection Trainers:

Following the advice of the Child Protection Committee, two part-time Child Protection Trainers are appointed by the diocese.  The Child Protection Trainers are responsible for the implementation of the Child Protection Policy at parish level.

The Child Protection Trainers are Joe Searson and Mary Nash