Presbyterian Church Tightens Safeguarding Protocols

0:00On April 3, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland rode out new safeguarding protocols this week, sparked by serious charges against Robert Briscoe, AA, 40-a-year-old from Seamount and North Belfast. He's accused of trafficking and drugging a teen boy for sex. These steps stemmed from protocols developed amid the Church's ongoing safeguarding scandal, now activated in direct response to the case. Briscoe led music at Helen's Bay Presbyterian Church and served as a pair-protetic brass tutor for the education authority in multiple schools, putting him in regular contact with young people. The scandal has raised alarms across church communities and education circles, underscoring vulnerabilities in roles involving kids. With charges now formal, the church is doubling down on these protections to prevent future risks and rebuild trust. That's your Europe News Today update, AI-powered and always on.