Saturday, May 18, 2013

Sentamu to set up abuse inquiry after allegations of cover-up

The Archbishop of York John Sentamu is setting up an independent inquiry into allegations that his predecessor covered up child abuse by a senior priest in Manchester.

Dr Sentamu's office made the announcement on Saturday afternoon, hours after The Times reported that Archbishop David Hope, now Lord Hope of Thornes, stood accused of covering up allegations that a former dean of Manchester, Revd Robert Waddington, who died in 2007, had abused choirboys and school pupils.

Lord Hope was made aware of the accusations against Mr Waddington, who was once the cleric in overall charge of CofE schools, in 1999 and again in 2003. 

Lord Hope ordered internal investigations, interviewed Waddington and revoked his right to conduct church services, but he did not report concerns to police or child protection agencies, The Times reported following a joint investigation with The Australian newspaper in Sydney.

Lord Hope denied any cover-up, saying he had correctly followed CofE child protection procedures in place at the time, which did not oblige him to report the case to the authorities.

He said was concerned about Mr Waddington's health. "I didn't report to the police. With hindsight, probably there ought to have been [a report]. He was in such a fragile and frail state," Lord Hope said.