'Child abuse' probe call is supported by Council

The motion, which was proposed at the February meeting of the local authority, last Monday night when it was seconded by Cllr David Tweed, read: “Ballymena Borough Council offers its congratulations to Cardinal Sean Brady, Catholic Primary of Ireland, for his spirited support of those calling for an enquiry into alleged clerical abuse of children, physical, psychological and sexual in Northern Ireland.

“Council also commends and honours the victims of the alleged abuse, stated as hundreds in number, who have called for an investigation and are willing to testify to the alleged horrors they endured.

“We urge the MLAs at the Stormont Assembly, who have supported the victims’ call for justice and reparation, to progress and facilitate the setting-up of a legally structured investigation with the utmost expediency. It is our belief that child abuse must not defer to boundaries”.

Responding to an extended version of the motion subsequently put to the meeting by Cllr. Stirling, Cllr. Monica Digney said that while she was aware of the abuse that had taken place around the world, describing it as “horrific”, she added that she did not think the Council chamber “was the place to air such issues” and that she felt offended by it “as a practising Catholic”.

“This has nothing to do with what people elected us for and I think it is a sad motion...We need to work towards a settlement for victims and to be sensitive to victims,” she said.

Cllr Stirling said he failed to understand her objection, pointing out that the matter had been debated in the Assembly where, he said, one of the most outspoken members on the issue had been Carmel Hanna of the SDLP.

“I am not attacking a faith, as such, in spiritual terms,” said Cllr Stirling, “but one that has moved outside the spiritual realms to politics”.

The proposal was carried by 17 votes to two.