The Church of Ireland is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Gabriel Chrystal as Child Protection Officer for the Republic of Ireland. Reporting to Dr Ken Fennelly, Secretary to the General Synod Board of Education, Gabriel will be based in Church of Ireland House Dublin.
Originally from Sligo, Gabriel has been in police work since 2002 and has been part of the child protection team within both the Metropolitan Police in London and Thames Valley Police. He brings a broad range of experience in the field of family support and child protection, including case management and investigation, and has also specialised in the provision of training programmes.

Together with Margaret Yarr, Church of Ireland Child Protection Officer for Northern Ireland, Gabriel’s role will be to provide advice and support to the Church in the implementation and development of its child protection policy Safeguarding Trust.

The Most Rev Dr Michael Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin and Chairman of the Church of Ireland Board of Education (RI), said: ‘I am delighted to welcome Gabriel Chrystal to work with the dioceses and parishes in the Republic of Ireland in the area of child protection. The Church’s work in the area of child protection is very important to our life as a church community and helps to provide a safe environment in which ministry with children can be creatively and effectively explored. I offer Gabriel my congratulations on his appointment and know that he will be welcomed by the wider Church as he begins his work with us.’

To find out more about Safeguarding Trust visit http://sgt.ireland.anglican.org/