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De La Salle College: Complaints made about priest's visit

De La Salle College in west Belfast. Picture by Hugh Russell
De La Salle College in west Belfast. Picture by Hugh Russell De La Salle College in west Belfast. Picture by Hugh Russell

CATHOLIC Church officials received three complaints about the visit of a priest to De La Salle College, it has been confirmed.

Details of a visit by a priest to the west Belfast school in 2013 were shared online with many parents expressing concern.

The school has been in the spotlight in recent months in a dispute between staff and management.

In a statement on Tuesday, the diocese of Down and Connor said it received "three concerns of a safeguarding nature relating to an incident in 2013 against a priest from outside of the diocese making a visit to De La Salle College".

In each case, these safeguarding matters were passed on to the statutory authorities by the Diocesan Safeguarding Office, the statement read.

"The diocese was advised that they had been investigated. No further action was recommended by the statutory authorities.

"Each school has its own safeguarding policy and processes in accordance with the Department of Education and Council for Catholic Maintained Schools guidelines in relation to all safeguarding matters related to the school.

"The diocese repeats that all allegations, concerns or suspicions of abuse are to be reported to the statutory authorities and/or to the diocesan designated officer. If any parent, teacher or guardian has any ongoing safeguarding concerns, they should direct these to the relevant authorities as soon as possible."

The Concerned Parents of De La Salle re-iterated its demand "that the principal, board of governors and vice principals be stood down with immediate effect".

An independent panel is investigating the situation at the school, which has been in turmoil over a breakdown in relations between some of the 70-strong staff and the principal for several months.