On November 13, 2025, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland found itself at the center of a storm after publicly admitting to a series of serious safeguarding failings that spanned over a decade. The revelations, which have shaken the faith community across the island, prompted a wave of resignations, urgent calls for transparency, and demands for an independent inquiry into the church’s processes and leadership.
According to reporting from BBC and other sources, the failings, which occurred between 2009 and 2022, were disclosed during a press conference led by senior church figures. Rev Dr David Bruce, Convener of the General Council of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, spoke with visible sorrow and regret, admitting, “Our current Safeguarding Team has identified a number of situations between 2009 and 2021, with one as late as 2022, where we have failed to deliver an adequate safeguarding service. In most instances, this involved a basic failure to follow our own Taking Care guidance.”
The church’s own review found multiple instances where safeguarding guidance was not followed: cases where referrals to statutory authorities were not made when required, concerns about people in congregations were not addressed, and offenders were allowed to return to worship without appropriate oversight. The person with lead responsibility for safeguarding during those years has since been removed from their post, according to the church’s statement. The failures, Rev Dr Bruce admitted, were “magnified by major gaps in necessary recordkeeping, so it is inevitable that we have not identified all situations where practice was unacceptable.”
Rev Dr Trevor Gribben, serving as Moderator of the General Assembly, also addressed the press conference. He acknowledged his own role in the failings, stating, “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. In light of this, I have decided it would be best at this time for me to step aside from my current role as Moderator of the General Assembly, the Church’s chief public representative.” Gribben confirmed he would step down at the end of November 2025 and would also retire from his role as Clerk of the Assembly and General Secretary.
The impact of these admissions has been profound, with church members and leaders expressing a mixture of shock, sadness, and urgency to restore trust. Former minister Rev David Latimer spoke candidly to BBC Radio Foyle, saying he was “stunned, shocked and greatly saddened” by the revelations. He called for the moderator’s resignation to be immediate rather than delayed, arguing, “People are wobbling with faith issues, with belief issues and their confidence in the church has been shaken right to the very core.” Latimer also emphasized the need for an independent review, stating that results must be shared and recommendations made public as quickly as possible.
Child abuse expert Jim Gamble, who previously headed the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) police command, described the moment as a “watershed” for the church. Speaking to the BBC’s Nolan Show, Gamble said, “By failing to share in as transparent way as possible what has gone wrong – the Presbyterian Church are proving the point that there must be a full and independent inquiry, a report that is published and remedial action that is taken urgently.” He warned that the “ambiguity of some of the statements” made by the church was “deeply concerning,” and urged for a “root and branch” independent inquiry to ensure congregations are truly safe.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed ongoing discussions with the church to ensure mechanisms are in place for reporting abuse. These conversations began after the church raised concerns following the conviction of an individual for child sexual offences in 2024. The PSNI said they are working with the church to support anyone who wishes to report abuse, underlining the seriousness of the matter.
Bernie McNally, chair of the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland, echoed the need for external oversight. She told the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster programme that the church needs “external support to set up a system which means the voice of victims and potential victims can be heard.” McNally stressed that a system must be established so “people can have confidence” in the church, and that independent verification would be necessary to ensure the new system works properly. “I think sometimes when there is a vacuum like that that it’s filled with misinformation,” she said, highlighting the anxiety and distress felt by congregations.
In the days following the announcement, church leadership outlined a series of steps to address the failings and support those affected. A dedicated response line was set up, with contact details for both telephone and email widely shared through church channels and the PCI website. Rev Dr Bruce assured, “Anyone in our congregations, or those more broadly associated with us, either now or in the past, who may have been impacted can contact us directly through a dedicated response line, or email address… I would reassure anyone contacting the team that they will be listened to, heard and responded to, as they should have been previously. Our response team is trained to take a trauma-informed approach in this extremely sensitive work.”
The church’s admission also prompted a statement from Victim Support NI, which expressed concern for those harmed and encouraged anyone affected to seek help. “Our first concern is with those who may have been harmed as a result of these failings. We want to reassure anyone who has experienced harm that they are not to blame,” the statement read. Victim Support NI emphasized that their services are trauma-informed, confidential, and free, available to anyone impacted regardless of whether they have reported their experience to the police.
Despite the church’s efforts to be responsive, some critics have pointed out the lack of detail in the internal report, which has not yet been published. This lack of transparency has led to further calls for an independent, publicly available inquiry. According to Rev Dr David Allen, acting clerk of the General Assembly, the church initiated its investigation after being contacted by the PSNI in May 2025 regarding an individual’s actions outside their congregation. The PSNI requested that no action be taken until their own investigation was complete. Once cleared, the church began internal investigations into its processes.
So far, three congregations—on both sides of the Irish border—have had individuals come forward to speak with the church. However, Rev David Bruce acknowledged, “The church does not know precisely who has been harmed,” and while the known number of cases is “very small,” the church is eager to hear from anyone with concerns.
The events of the past week have left many Presbyterians grappling with difficult questions about their faith and the future of their church. As congregations prepare to gather for Sunday services, the mood is expected to be somber, with many seeking answers and reassurance that real change is on the horizon.
With external experts, victim support organizations, and church members all calling for transparency and reform, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland faces a critical moment—one that will test its willingness to confront past failings and rebuild trust with those it serves.
