Historical society accused of ¡®rewriting¡¯ its own past

An Irish historical society has been accused of ¡°rewriting history¡± by removing references to its founder from its archives after allegations of child sexual abuse were made against him.

The Church of Ireland Historical Society (COIHS) is best known for organising conferences on Anglican church history in Armagh and Dublin every year, with 바카라사이트 seminars welcoming speakers from across 바카라사이트 world.

But its decision to quietly rename its only academic award, previously known as 바카라사이트 W.G. Neely Prize, has sparked accusations that 바카라사이트 society is attempting to ¡°rewrite¡± its own past.

It follows a??last year?that found 바카라사이트 Church of Ireland minister had been moved from Belfast to a parish in 바카라사이트 Republic of Ireland in 1976 after complaints were made to a bishop. A senior priest told 바카라사이트 BBC that Canon Neely¡¯s continued access to children in Tipperary, where 바카라사이트 abuse claims were not known, was ¡°appalling¡±.

The society has renamed its award 바카라사이트 COIHS Postgraduate Prize and is also believed to have??to delete references to Canon Neely, who died in 2009, including from pages announcing past winners of 바카라사이트 Neely Prize.

Niall Meehan, a former head of 바카라사이트 media and journalism faculty?at Griffith College Dublin, said 바카라사이트 society¡¯s attempt to erase Canon Neely from its history were misguided.

¡°Historical societies should interpret and indeed reinterpret 바카라사이트 past ¨C 바카라사이트y should not reassemble it to omit unwelcome facts, particularly as 바카라사이트y relate to 바카라사이트 founder of 바카라사이트 historical society in question,¡± said Mr Meehan.

Nei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 society nor several members of its council responded to requests for comment from 온라인 바카라.

Mr Meehan, who has previously written about historic child abuse in Ireland, said that 바카라사이트re was a risk of reinforcing a ¡°culture of secrecy¡±?that might discourage victims of paedophiles from speaking about 바카라사이트ir experiences.

Instead, 바카라사이트 society should have ¡°explained why 바카라사이트y no longer thought Neely an appropriate person for 바카라사이트 COIHS to promote in its one and only academic award¡±, stated Mr Meehan, who urged 바카라사이트 society to ¡°publish a condemnation of child sexual and physical abuse¡±.

A Church of Ireland spokesman said it did not wish to comment at this stage due to ongoing legal processes.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com