The body investigating the events leading up to the resignation of Newcastle Bishop say they will "leave no stone unturned".
Bishop Robert Byrne stepped down as Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle in December, and the Roman Catholic Church has launched an inquiry looking at the events leading up to his resignation.
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As part of a wider investigation, the Vatican is also looking into an alleged lockdown sex party at St Mary's Cathedral in Newcastle. There is no suggestion Bishop Byrne was at the alleged party of was aware of it.
During lockdown, Father Michael McCoy, who was the dean at the time, allegedly asked several worshippers if they would like to attend a 'sex party' inside a property adjoining St Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle, according to The Sunday Times.
"A number of complaints were made by individuals within the diocese after information came to light about a sex party taking place in the priests' living quarters attached to Newcastle cathedral," a source told the newspaper.
Stephen Ashley, the chief executive of the Catholic Safeguarding Safety Agency, confirmed that the agency was undertaking an “official, independent, unscheduled safeguarding audit and safeguarding review in the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle.”
He said: “The CSSA’s Quality Assurance Team are leading this work and I will oversee it.
"We will publish our independent recommendations publicly, as soon as possible, once our team has completed its investigatory work and satisfied all lines of inquiry.”
Nazir Afzal, chair of the CSSA, said: “Our job is to audit and review safeguarding in Catholic Church bodies. We are now active in a safeguarding review in the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle.”
He added: “Naturally, we cannot yet speak to the detail of investigatory work which is ongoing, but there should be no doubt that we will leave no stone unturned to when it comes to keeping people safe, and this includes investigating the safeguarding culture in Hexham and Newcastle.”
A Hexham and Newcastle diocese spokesman said: "The Diocese had previously invited the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) to conduct a review following the resignation of Bishop Byrne in December 2022.
"Diocesan Trustees have met and have had contact with the chief executive and representatives of the CSSA this week.
"They have discussed how the review, originally scheduled to happen in May 2023, will be undertaken and how the findings will be published. The review is now underway.
"Prior to Bishop Byrne’s resignation in mid-December, Trustees were working with the Charity Commission, following their self-referral to that organisation.
"The Diocese will continue to work productively and swiftly with both organisations, learning where it needs to, not from rumours and misinformation, but from the facts and evidence provided.
"The Diocese remains fully committed to safeguarding as an integral part of the life and the ministry of the Church, and to providing assurance that its safeguarding procedures are appropriate and as they need to be.”
Canon Michael McCoy, 57, was found dead at his apartment in Newcastle in April 2021.
Mr McCoy took his own life days after learning police were investigating him over a 'historic allegation'. He was visited by officers on April 6 and told that a historic allegation had been made against him, and that he would be invited for a voluntary interview at some stage.
Detective Sergeant Julie Beattie, of Northumbria Police's child and adult protection department, said Mr McCoy was 'upset' but said he would seek his own support from friends and colleagues, and no concerns were raised about his wellbeing.
Mr McCoy voluntarily withdrew from his ministry in the cathedral and moved into an Airbnb. On April 10 a man attended Mr McCoy's apartment 'as part of the provision of support for him' and became concerned when he did not get an answer.
The concierge service helped him gain access to the apartment, where Mr McCoy was found dead. Mr McCoy had not left a note, and his mobile phone and tablet had been factory reset, and nothing could be retrieved from them.
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