As previously announced, the GAA has commissioned an Independent Review of the Child and Adult Safeguarding Policies, Procedures and Practices relating to Crossmaglen Rangers Cumann Lúthchleas Gael (CLG), arising from reported abuse during the period 1989 – 2018 and the conviction of Thomas McKenna.

Michael Lynch, a former Senior Investigation Officer with the Garda National Child Protection Unit will lead the review. Michael has also acted as a safeguarding consultant to the United Nations, European Commission, Scouting Ireland and the Council of Europe.

Two Liaison Persons have also been appointed to assist the Review Team in Louise Monaghan, an independent safeguarding consultant and trainer and Barney Herron, former Senior Social Worker with the Family and Childcare Programme with Belfast Trust and currently employed as an independent safeguarding consultant and is the GAA County Antrim Children’s Officer in a voluntary capacity.

Should any person wish to make contact with the Review Team they may do so in confidence at review.cmr@gmail.com.

We urge anyone else who has been abused by Mr McKenna to contact the PSNI on 101, in an emergency call 999. Anyone who is affected by this event may avail of services provided by NSPCC (0808 800 5000), Nexus on (02890 326803 or 02871 260566) or Lifeline. 0808 808 8000 for support.

Please find the Terms of Reference for the Independent Review below.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Review of the Child and Adult Safeguarding Policies, Procedures and Practices relating to Crossmaglen Rangers Cumann Lúthchleas Gael (CLG), arising from reported abuse during the period 1989 – 2018 and following the guilty plea by a former Crossmaglen Rangers CLG Senior Club Official, Mr Thomas McKenna, to 162 sexual offences against twenty-three male victims, between 1989 and 2018.

The Child Safeguarding Committee, appointed by Uachtarán CLG, Larry McCarthy, (March 2021), agreed that an independent review of the safeguarding processes, the association response to the abuse and any lessons learned be conducted by an external independent reviewer.

The Child Safeguarding Committee appointed Mr Michael Lynch as the lead person (the Reviewer). Both Louise Monaghan and Barney Herron have been appointed as a Liaison Persons to assist the lead person under his direction, and to liaise between the review process and the GAA and identified personnel, if or as required.

1 PURPOSE

The purpose of ‘The Review’ is to:

1.1 To consider, and report on the facts that have emerged in respect of the abuse of GAA members by Mr McKenna from 1st January 1989 to 26 October 2018.

1.2 To consider and report on whether members of Crossmaglen Rangers CLG, who may be survivors of Mr. McKenna’s abuse, had during the time period 1989 - 2018, the opportunity to report their allegations or concerns to relevant club personnel, or other GAA personnel, and to the statutory authorities, and if any such reports were correctly and promptly acted upon by GAA Officials.

1.3 To consider and report on whether Crossmaglen Rangers CLG child safeguarding and protection procedures were adequate during the period of the review and if the Club responded appropriately.

1.4 To consider and report on whether the GAA safeguarding services, at Provincial, County and National level, responded adequately and appropriately, following the reporting of abuse allegations to them, initially on 31 July 2018, and for a period thereafter.

1.5 To consider and report on any lessons learned since those incidents took place to ensure that the risk of abuse is reduced and where possible eliminated.

2 REVIEW OUTCOMES

The review shall determine the following:

2.1 During the period of 1 January 1989 and 26 October 2018, the agreed review time period, if members of the Association, at club or other levels were aware, or made aware of concerns or allegations, relating to the abuse carried out by Thomas Mc Kenna, and if made aware of such concerns or allegations, what action, if any, did these members take?

2.2 Whether the child safeguarding and protection practices of Crossmaglen Rangers CLG, were of an acceptable standard during the agreed review time period.

2.3 Whether officers or other members of Crossmaglen Rangers CLG received any complaints, reports or concerns of abuse relating to Mr Thomas McKenna during the review period, and if so, were they dealt with in an appropriate manner and reported to the relevant statutory authorities and the relevant Association Officers.

2.4 Whether the safeguarding concerns and complaints, initially shared with GAA personnel were dealt with appropriately by the Association.

2.5 Whether following the reports of abuse (received in confidence) appropriate levels of support were made available by the Association for the survivors who made themselves known to the GAA or the Association’s representatives.

2.6 Whether the Association and its units dealt with the reported abuse in an appropriate manner in its liaison with the relevant statutory authorities.

2.7 To make recommendations as appropriate

3 PARTICIPATION OF SURVIVORS IN REVIEW

3.1 Notwithstanding the right to retain their anonymity, survivors of Mr McKenna’s abuse shall, through the appropriate forum or their representatives, be made aware of this review and shall be invited to make submissions to the Reviewer, in writing or in-person, as they deem appropriate. The identity of those that wish to participate shall not be disclosed.

3.2 The participation of any or all survivors of abuse by Mr McKenna in this review process shall be encouraged and most welcome.

4 PROCESS

The Appointed Reviewer shall

4.1 Invite submissions or input from individuals of their choosing, both internally within the GAA and from outside of the organisation if required, in oral or written format. Any such submissions shall be confined to the terms of reference.

4.2 A Liaison Person(s) shall be appointed to maintain liaison with the Reviewer in their work and shall as required liaise with individuals whom it is considered may have information relevant to this Review. The liaison person shall interact in a liaison role only, to preserve the independent nature of the review. The appointed liaison(s) person will not participate in the review save for assisting in a logistical capacity.

4.3 The Reviewer will have full access to all material it seeks, and which are within the organisation’s possession. Where material is not in the Organisations possession, it will take all reasonable steps to obtain such material.

4.4 All personal and sensitive information will be appropriately protected and will be made available only to those who are required to have sight of such information for the purpose of conducting and completing the Review.

4.3 The Reviewer shall agree a timescale with the Child Safeguarding Committee within which relevant information shall be collated and assessed, and an interim and a final report submitted to them.

5 REPORT

5.1 Within an agreed timescale, the Reviewer will be responsible for the completion of a report outlining a series of conclusions and recommendations. This will be presented to the Child Safeguarding Committee, and it is this Committee who shall decide on the subsequent publication of the report, as deemed appropriate.

5.2 At an agreed date, an interim report shall be submitted to the Child Safeguarding Committee by the Reviewer and should amendments to the Terms of Reference be requested at that stage, they may be discussed and agreed with the Child Safeguarding Committee.

5.3 It is not the purpose or function of the Review to determine civil or criminal liability of named individuals or organisations. However, at the conclusion of the Review, or at any time during the review process, the Reviewer shall consider the requirement for the referral to the relevant statutory authorities of any information, that they consider to:

(a) be of a criminal nature and or

(b) raise immediate safeguarding concerns

6 CONFIDENTIALITY

6.1 The Reviewer shall keep confidential all information disclosed as a result of the review and shall not use nor disclose the same, save as provided for in 5.1 and 5.2.

6.2 If it is necessary to interview an individual under 18 years of age, a responsible adult must accompany them. The name of the person under 18 years of age shall not be included in the report, regardless of wishes to the contrary.

6.3 Notwithstanding 6.2 above, and with the exception of Mr Thomas McKenna, former coach, and treasurer of Crossmaglen Rangers CLG, no other person may be identified by name in the report, unless permitted by them to do so.