Incoming Presbyterian moderator does not rule out use of NDAs

The incoming moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) has said the church has nothing to hide - but will not rule out the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) say they have received more than 100 "referrals" in their investigation into safeguarding concerns at the PCI.

That followed a church admission of "serious and significant failings in the central safeguarding functions from the period 2009 to 2022".

Rev Richard Kerr, who will take up his position as moderator in June, said the "jury is out" over the church's use of NDAs.

An NDA is a legally binding document that protects confidential information between two parties and typically prevent staff and ex-staff making information public.

The Presbyterian Church has previously confirmed that it has used them.

Asked if he wants the church to stop the use of NDAs, Rev Kerr said "we are looking into these".

"I agree with us looking into them and investigating whether they should be used or otherwise," he told BBC News NI.

"At this stage for me the jury is out to some extent.

"NDAs are used right across the board in so many aspects of life."

Rev Kerr agreed that "the optics of NDAs are not good" and said the church needs "to look at this and why we use them".

He added: "At this stage I personally don't know enough about them to be able to make that sort of judgement.

"I want to stress that I want to do all I can to make sure we are as open and transparent across the board in every way that we can.

"So please do hear me clearly on this, I am prepared to look at anything that makes sure that we do that."

As well as the PSNI investigation, the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland has launched an inquiry into the church.

Rev Trevor Gribben was until recently the head of the church, known as moderator.

He stepped down at the end of November saying that although he had not been directly responsible for the delivery of safeguarding, some of the failings happened when he held senior positions within the church.

Rev Kerr has apologised for those failings.

"We have let people down," he said. "We have hurt people. People have been harmed as a result of these failings. I am deeply apologetic for that.

"We hope that these investigations by the PSNI, and by the Charity Commission NI will reveal what needs to be addressed, so we can fully address those things.

"We have nothing that we want to hide here.

"We want this all brought into the open and we want this dealt with and we want to start in a place where we rebuild trust."