Irish church faces calls to scrap NDAs

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI), which is under police investigation for safeguarding failings over several years, has denied using non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in the case of whistle-blowers or safeguarding matters.

However, it has set up a task group to look at its use of such agreements. It has also established a new Safeguarding Department with external oversight; and committed to a full, independent external review of safeguarding within the denomination “at an appropriate time.”

It follows a plea by ex-Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie that the PCI should dissolve all existing NDAs. He warned that NDAs make a “nonsense” of the PCI’s own appeal for potential victims to come forward.