Presbyterian ministers and elders attended a special general assembly in Belfast on Thursday to agree new measures on safeguarding.

The moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has apologised to those who have been hurt or harmed by safeguarding failings.

It comes after ‘serious and significant failings’ were found in central safeguarding functions from 2009 to 2022.

A senior officer said his investigation team aimed to make sure ‘perpetrators will be held to account’.

The Church has been called upon to provide more clarity around ‘serious failings’ in safeguarding.

Moderator Rev Trevor Gribben said people within the Church had been harmed and others placed at risk.