An independent review of the management of historical sexual abuse within St John Ambulance Ireland will be carried out by the Law Society’s Dr Geoffrey Shannon, an internationally-recognised expert in child protection.

Roderic O’Gorman, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, said that he welcomed the appointment, noting Dr Shannon’s extensive experience and expertise in this area. 

During Dr Shannon’s three successive terms as Special Rapporteur for Child Protection, he produced 12 annual reports, as well as a range of other documents.

Dr Shannon, as a solicitor, has also served as chair of the Adoption Authority.

Allegations

The terms of reference set out that Dr Shannon will review how the organisation handled past allegations of child sexual abuse, relating to one volunteer, and will also examine the current standard of child safeguarding. 

In recent months a number of individuals have made retrospective disclosures of abuse, concerning a former member of St John Ambulance. A number of allegations have previously been investigated by An Garda Síochána, and files prepared for the DPP.

The terms of reference for the report, and contact methods, will be published shortly.