The Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) has found itself at the center of a storm as the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed on November 17, 2025, that it has launched a criminal investigation into safeguarding failures within the church. This move follows a tumultuous period marked by the high-profile resignation of the church’s moderator, Rev Trevor Gribben, and mounting criticism of the church’s handling of abuse allegations dating back over a decade.
Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck, speaking at a press conference in Belfast, laid out the police’s immediate priorities: “Over the last number of days we have been working with statutory partners to formalise a co-ordinated response to address the matters that have come to light as a result of the recent announcement by the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. My immediate priority and that of the PSNI is the protection and the safeguarding of anyone who may have been affected.” He went on to announce the establishment of a dedicated investigation team, led by an experienced senior investigating officer from the public protection branch, to ensure that “perpetrators will be held to account.”
The investigation’s scope is broad, with the PSNI making it clear that it will examine not only individual offences but also the conduct of those responsible for safeguarding within the PCI. Beck emphasized, “The role of the PSNI will be to investigate all criminal offences and to work closely with statutory partners under the joint protocol arrangements. That is to ensure victims can access the criminal justice process and perpetrators will be held to account.”
These developments come in the wake of a devastating internal review, which found “serious and significant failings” in the PCI’s central safeguarding functions between 2009 and 2022. The review revealed that, in some cases, the church failed to respond when people who had suffered harm sought help. Even more troubling, there were instances where offenders returned to worship in church but were “inadequately monitored.”
The PCI, which counts around 180,000 members across more than 500 congregations in 19 regional presbyteries, has pledged full cooperation with the police. “Having been informed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland that they have launched a criminal investigation, we welcome this believing it will provide a thorough, trusted and transparent outcome. We will co-operate fully with the investigation. We will make available all relevant files, reports and information to assist police with their inquiries,” a church spokesperson stated. However, the spokesperson added, “As a consequence of the PSNI’s announcement today of their investigation we will not be able to make any further comment related to the inquiry or aspects pertaining to it.”
The crisis within the church reached a tipping point last week when Rev Trevor Gribben resigned as moderator, citing the “serious and significant failings” highlighted in the internal review. The acting clerk of the General Assembly, Rev Dr David Allen, has since taken the reins. On November 16, Allen’s statement, apologizing for the safeguarding failings, was read out in congregations across Northern Ireland. But the apology has not quelled unrest within the church’s ranks. According to reporting by Belfast Telegraph, there is “palpable fear and anger” among ministers, with allegations that some have been told not to speak out publicly about the crisis.
For many, the church’s troubles are not new. Dr Jacqui Montgomery-Devlin, who served as PCI’s head of safeguarding from 2019 until her departure in June 2024, has been a vocal critic of the leadership’s response to abuse allegations. She described a “struggle” to get higher authorities to take safeguarding seriously, telling BBC News NI, “There weren’t any hard copies, there was next to nothing electronically on the system, so that was one of my first tasks that I gave myself because nobody was telling me what to do.” Montgomery-Devlin accused the church of maintaining a “culture of control” and said safeguarding was not a priority for senior leaders. She recounted, “The pain I heard about, of people who said they had been victims in the past in the church and suffered in silence because… nobody was listening or the structures weren’t there to come forward and talk so I was proactive, I was there to listen.”
Montgomery-Devlin has called for the publication of the internal report that triggered Gribben’s resignation, even if it is partially redacted. She insists that external safeguarding experts must be brought in, stating, “No organisation can, nor should they, do [an internal investigation] if they’re wanting to be open and transparent and truly make change.” She has also advocated for a public inquiry and the involvement of the PSNI in investigating potential criminal offences, underscoring that “protecting the innocent, protecting the victims and survivors now” must be paramount.
The scandal has also put a spotlight on specific cases, notably that of William Maher, a former teacher and volunteer youth worker with the PCI. Maher, from Belfast, was convicted in 2024 of inciting sexual activity with children under 13 and sentenced to two years, half of which is to be served in prison and half on licence. His case is widely seen as a catalyst for the current crisis and the subsequent police investigation.
Further complicating matters, Ian Elliott, an independent safeguarding expert who was part of a previous review panel, has challenged the church’s narrative about when the scale of the problem became apparent. Elliott claims he raised “concerns about a failing culture of safeguarding” in 2023, but these were “effectively set aside,” casting doubt on the assertion that the issue only came to light in May 2025.
Assistant Chief Constable Beck made a direct appeal to victims, acknowledging the difficulty many may feel in coming forward: “If I can speak directly to victims, I recognise that this may be difficult and you may not be ready. That is OK. We want to hear from you, you will be treated with sensitivity, with respect and with professionalism.” The PSNI has established dedicated lines for victims and is working with partners in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, given the church’s cross-border presence. Beck confirmed, “There is the potential for this to be a cross-border and cross-jurisdictional investigation.”
Geraldine Hanna, Commissioner Designate for Victims of Crime, welcomed the police’s victim-centered approach, stating, “At the heart of this story are individuals who have been let down by one of the most important institutions in their lives. It is crucial that anyone affected is able to access the support and services they need. Their voice and their wellbeing must be the central driving force for the police and all other agencies involved in this process.”
With a special meeting of the General Assembly scheduled for December 2025 and the criminal investigation only just beginning, the PCI faces a long road toward regaining trust and ensuring the safety of its congregation. The coming months will test whether transparency and accountability can finally take root in an institution shaken to its core.
