Independent Inquiry on Child Sexual Abuse: Roman Catholic Church has failed victims and survivors of abuse

Today, the Independent Inquiry on Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) publishes its latest report on the Roman Catholic Church.  The findings of the Inquiry detail devastating failures by the Church over decades and notwithstanding the Inquiry’s focus on the Roman Catholic Church.  The Inquiry is highly critical of the ongoing failure on the part of the most senior church leaders – in England and in Rome - to prioritise the interests and welfare of the victims over the reputation of the church and the clergy. 

Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC and Angela Patrick, instructed by Jon Wakefield at Bhatia Best, represent RC-A1 (also known by the Inquiry as D2), an adult survivor of child sexual abuse at two now closed residential schools for children with special educational needs operated by the Archdiocese of Birmingham.  He was subject to horrific acts of physical and sexual abuse in the care of the Church during the 1970s.  He first reported his abuse to the police and to the Archdiocese of Birmingham in 2005.  His evidence was read as part of the Inquiry’s hearing in November 2018 and is summarised in today’s Report.

The IICSA Report is available here. Bhatia Best have issued a statement on behalf of D2, which is available here.