There are two Designated Persons for our diocese, either of which can be contacted with regard to any concerns relating to the welfare of children or issues pertaining to child abuse involving Church personnel.  

Fr. Ray Browne PP, Ballagh, Killrooskey, Roscommon,Co. Roscommon Tel: 0906 626273

Mrs. Mary Nicholson, C/O St. Mary's, Temple Street, Sligo.  Tel: 086 3750277

The Designated Person will respond promptly and liaise with the required civil authorities, i.e. the Health Services Executive and An Garda Síochána.

Concerns and complaints may also be passed on directly to the Health Services Executive and / or An Garda Síochána.

• H.S.E. West (Sligo) Tel: 071 9155133.
• H.S.E. West (Boyle) Tel: 071 96 62087
• H.S.E. West (Roscommon) Tel: 090 6637528/9
• H.S.E. West (Castlerea) Tel: 090 66 37842/3/8
• H.S.E. West (Galway) Tel: 091 523122.
• Contact your local Garda Station
• Garda Confidential Service Tel: 1800 666 111

Pastoral Care
The diocese recognises the support needs of complainants and alleged perpetrators of abuse. The Designated Person can introduce these persons and their families to a panel of Support Persons. Support Persons have a pastoral role. Part of this can involve assisting and facilitating people access information and professional help. They are caring people as distinct from professionals in the Child Protection sector.

Persons seeking pastoral support with regard to issues of child abuse are also encouraged to do so through their local clergy, or make direct contact with:

The Elphin Diocesan Office, St. Mary’s, Temple St., Sligo.

Tel: 071 9162670.

What Is Child Abuse

Definitions of Abuse

Neglect

Neglect can be defined in terms of an omission, where the child suffers significant harm or impairment of development by being deprived of food, clothing, warmth, hygiene, intellectual stimulation, supervision and safety, attachment to and affection from adults, and medical care.

Neglect generally becomes apparent in different ways over a period of time rather than at one specific point. It is the persistent failure to meet a child’s physical, emotional and / or psychological needs that is likely to result in significant harm.

Examples of neglect include:

Where a child suffers a series of minor injuries as a result of not being properly supervised or protected.

• The consistent failure of a child to gain weight or height may indicate that they are being deprived of adequate nutrition.
• Where a child consistently misses school, this may be due to bullying or deprivation of intellectual stimulation and support.

Emotional abuse

Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional ill-treatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development.

Emotional abuse is normally found in the relationship between a care-giver and a child rather than in a specific event or pattern of events. It occurs when a child’s need for affection, approval, consistency and security is not met. Unless other forms of abuse are present, it is rarely manifested in physical signs or symptoms.

Physical abuse

Physical abuse is any form of non-accidental injury, or injury which results from wilful or neglectful failure to protect a child. Examples of physical injury include the following:

• Shaking a child
• Using excessive force in handling
• Deliberate poisoning
• Suffocation
• Allowing or creating substantial risk of significant harm to a child.

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse occurs when a child is used by another person for his or her gratification or sexual arousal, or for that of others. Any form of sexual behaviour engaged in by an adult with a child or young person is sexual abuse, and is both immoral and criminal. They may also be “indirect abuse” of children, for instance, where children have been photographed, videotaped or filmed for pornographic purposes. Indirect abuse also includes the subjecting of children to gross and obscene language or indecent images. The use

or possession of child pornography in any form is illegal and there is an obligation to report information concerning anyone possessing such material to the police authorities.