1. Introductions: This summary report covers the last two meetings of the committee held in April and June 2025. In attendance at both meetings the first in person and second virtually were regular committee members: Mrs Fiona Bateman, Mr. James Reilly (Chair), Mr Jim Gallagher, Mrs Julie Ashby-Ellis, Fr Paul O’Reilly SJ, Fr David Smolira SJ, Fr Provincial and Mrs Nadra Gadeed. Mrs Fiona Robb supported taking the minutes of the non-confidential items. Approval was given to minutes of the meetings on February 4 th and April 8th, and the action log reviewed with future actions recorded. The April meeting was an extraordinary session held at Manresa House, Birmingham with colleagues from the Irish Province: Saoirse Fox, Safeguarding and Professional Standards Delegate and Fr Terry Howard SJ their Socius. The main item on the agenda was to share the experience which resulted in the production of the report entitled: Fr Joseph Marmion SJ. His abuse, the harm caused and Jesuit accountability a narrative record. Key points are captured in section 3.
2. Work with Victim/Survivors and Safety Management Plans: In the second part of the April meeting and the commencement of the June meeting the committee reviewed the current work where Nadra Gadeed reported on her work with XX victim/survivors of which XX are historical where the perpetrator is deceased.. In relation to safeguarding management plans, JAE reported that there are no Jesuits subject to safety management plans. and appropriate remedial action has been taken.
3. Key Points from Marmion Report discussion. At its June meeting the committee received notes and a four-page written summary of the discussion with our Irish Colleagues which captured learning points and areas for further reflection and action. A complaint made in February 2019 regarding the abuse of pupil by Fr Joseph Marmion SJ (then deceased) in Belvedere College in the 1970’s resulted in an evolving process over three years culminating in the publication of the report in XX {link}. This report was the product of an innovative collaboration between a representative group of victim/survivors, the Irish Province and three Irish Jesuit schools. This collaboration was facilitated by professional practitioners in restorative justice methodologies who were commissioned by the province but acted independently.
In the course of this process, the provincial became convinced of the benefits in reaching victim/survivors by publicly naming Joseph Marmion and two other deceased Jesuits in March 2021 and March 2022. The publicity achieved resulted in 150 complaints being received 50% of which related to Jesuits and the rest to lay staff mostly at Belvedere College but extended to other Irish Jesuit schools. Prior to this process safeguarding complaints had related to ministry settings other than schools in contrast to those which emerged for other orders in Ireland as the abuse scandal unfolded.
Investigations are continuing into complaints at Mount St Mary’s College (MSM), notified to the Jesuit Safeguarding team and a number of other agencies and raised at meetings of the Jesuit Trustees’ Safeguarding Committee. At the TSC’s February meeting, MSM is under the leadership of the Interim Head. Since the November update on this protracted process overseen by the school governors, there are continuing concerns on how this matter is being progressed by the relevant governors. In March a further LADO and statutory bodies meeting is due to review the outcome of the review and formal investigation.
{Subsequent to the TSC February meeting, the Jesuits’ Safeguarding Coordinator, JAE, has updated the Provincial and others regarding the MSM Chair of Governors decisions about the Headteacher’s departure and associated arrangements. The Deputy Headteacher has now been appointed to the permanent position of Headteacher, replacing the Interim Head. JAE has also updated on the reaction of the LADO and statutory bodies at their March meeting with the chair and one other governor. Given that at the conclusion of that meeting there remained substantive misgivings with the present leadership of safeguarding in the school, all parties are now considering further statutory action in relation to the school. As this level of concern continues, Trustees will be updated on these developments, as they reinforce the related concerns which the Committee has been raising relating to shortcomings in governance at the school, with regard to the possible implications for the Province.
These ongoing concerns further reinforce the recommendations the Committee made to the last Trustees’ meeting to commission a formal review of the statement of collaboration and other undertakings between the Province and the independent trust schools. Secondly, the Committee also recommended that Fr Provincial and Trustees obtain from legal advisors a definitive position on their respective legal obligations and powers that pertain to Fr Provincial and Trustees in relation to the governance of all schools associated with the Province. It is hoped that these recommendations will now be supported by the Trustees and progressed in a timely manner.}
4. Other Matters. In this shortened meeting other matters arising included:
The date of the next meeting of the Committee is Tuesday 8th April 2025.
*Updated on 15 October 2025 to make the information clearer, including the timeline of events.
*The name of Karen Keeton has been removed from this summary report. The Jesuits in Britain apologise for any confusion caused by the way the information was previously presented. No criticism of the quality of her leadership was intended.
