#rociocifuentes — Public Fediverse posts

Children’s Commissioner demands reform after ‘serious failures’ in Church’s handling of paedophile bishop

A review into how the Church handled allegations against Anthony Pierce, the former Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, revealed a series of “serious failures” over several decades.

Senior clergy knew of sexual abuse concerns against Pierce in the 1990s but did not report them to the police until 2010. Despite this, he was still promoted to Archdeacon in 1995 and then Bishop of Swansea and Brecon in 1999.

Pierce was jailed last year for sexually abusing a boy in the 1980s while serving as a parish priest in West Cross, Swansea. He had previously been found guilty of indecent assault with a child.

Following his conviction, the Church in Wales also took the step of deposing Mr Pierce from holy orders, meaning he is no longer a priest.

Now, the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Rocio Cifuentes MBE, has said the case demonstrates “why independent oversight of safeguarding arrangements in faith settings remains essential.”

“Children and survivors must have confidence that their concerns will be acted on robustly and impartially, not minimised or ignored,” she said.

“The report also highlights a clear need for a strong, safe whistleblowing pathway for individuals within institutions to be able to raise concerns without fear of negative consequences. I will be raising this again with Welsh Government, and will seek a meeting with the Church in Wales to discuss their response.”

The Commissioner is now calling for a requirement for a clear, safe whistleblowing route within faith settings, independent oversight of safeguarding in religious institutions, and stronger national governance, including the consideration of a Child Protection Authority.

She said the current review of safeguarding governance in Wales is an important moment to strengthen protections and ensure gaps like those highlighted in this case are finally addressed.

“Children and adults affected by abuse deserve timely, trauma-informed support and clear routes to raise concerns, which should always be acted upon,” she added, paying tribute to the courage of those who came forward.

The Church in Wales has published the full report on its website and has said it accepts its findings in full, with the Archbishop of Wales describing the review as showing a “catalogue of failures” which can “only be a source of shame for the Church.”

The Most Revd Cherry Vann, Archbishop of Wales, said:

“The welfare of the victims of sexual abuse must always be our paramount concern, and we offer our most heartfelt apologies to those who have been failed by the Church in the past.

“The review shows in painful detail the missed opportunities, the harmful assumptions and the inadequate processes which characterised the Church’s response to these allegations of abuse for far too long. This catalogue of failures can only be a source of shame for the Church and will have caused further trauma to abuse victims and their families.”

The Archbishop added that while safeguarding processes had “improved immeasurably” since the periods covered by the review, there was “no room for complacency.”

The current Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, the Rt Revd John Lomas, also apologised unreservedly for the failings.

He said:

“The trauma experienced by victims of abuse within the Church is made all the worse by the breach of trust they have suffered, and, as this review has shown, by the failings of the Church as an institution.

“While nothing can undo the wrongs of the past, and while we can only apologise unreservedly for the failings this review has brought to light, we hope that this review will go some way towards showing our determination to be clear and robust in ensuring these issues can never happen again.”

CHILDREN’S COMMISSIONER STEPS IN: Watchdog demands meeting with health board over special school nurse crisis

In a significant development, Rocio Cifuentes MBE has confirmed she will be writing to Hywel Dda University Health Board to “raise the issue and seek a meeting” regarding the lack of a dedicated, full-time nurse at Ysgol Heol Goffa.

The move comes just days after Swansea Bay News reported that campaigners, including parents and local councillors, had called for the commissioner to investigate, warning that “lives may be at risk” as teachers are forced to provide complex medical care to pupils with life-limiting conditions.

In a powerful statement, Ms Cifuentes said she had received correspondence raising “serious concerns” and understood the anxiety the situation was causing.

“I will be writing to Hywel Dda Health Board to raise the issue and seek a meeting. Estyn’s report clearly indicated the need for a dedicated school nurse so I hope that this issue can be addressed swiftly. I would also like to meet with the children, parents and staff affected at Ysgol Heol Goffa so that I can hear their views directly.”

The Commissioner’s intervention adds significant weight to the campaign, which has been backed by parents, school staff, and local politicians. Her statement directly references the Estyn inspection report which campaigners have pointed to as clear evidence that a full-time nurse is required.

Ms Cifuentes highlighted that the issue at the Llanelli special school is part of a wider, systemic problem across Wales.

“Children with complex and life-limiting medical needs have the right to feel safe and properly supported in school, and their best interests must always come first. Last year we published a report examining the experiences of children and young people with disabilities in Wales. Within it, we found that many parents feel schools do not always have access to the specialist knowledge and medical expertise required to fully support their children.”

She confirmed that her office has already been raising the issue with Welsh Government officials, asking them to “strengthen the role of health in meeting the needs of children who have Additional Learning Needs or who are disabled.”

As reported previously, parents and staff at the school have been calling for a full-time nurse for five years. Anxious parents said they were “horrified” to discover the provision was not in place, while Llanelli Town Councillor Shaun Greaney warned the authorities were playing “Russian roulette with pupils’ lives.”

Hywel Dda University Health Board previously stated that it provides a “dedicated school nurse to meet their universal health needs” and offers training to school staff.

Drawing a parallel with a previous successful intervention, the Commissioner noted her office’s involvement in securing a new, modern building for the school, which was approved in July 2025 after her office sought assurances that children’s voices were being heard.

She concluded with a message of optimism, stating: “I hope that we can reach a similarly positive conclusion for the children and young people at Ysgol Heol Goffa this time.”