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The head of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has stepped down after “serious and significant failings” in safeguarding.
The Rev Trevor Gribben said “people have been placed at risk” due to the failings.
It is believed to be the first time in the long history of the church that the leader, known as moderator, has stepped aside while in office. He will leave the position at the end of this month.
The Presbyterian Church is the largest Protestant denomination in Northern Ireland, and on the island.
In a statement, he said the safeguarding failings took place between 2009 and 2022. During part of that period, he had a senior role in the church as general secretary.
Rev Gribben said: “Although not directly responsible for the professional delivery of safeguarding within the church, nonetheless serious and significant failings in our central safeguarding functions occurred partly during my tenure as general secretary.”
He added: “We are aware of a number of people who have been harmed, and we believe there may well be others as yet unknown to us. We apologise unreservedly for this.”
