World · Europe · 5 hrs ago
Caldey Abbey apologises to abuse survivors after BBC podcast launch
Caldey Abbey has issued a fresh apology to people who suffered abuse on Caldey Island, off the Pembrokeshire coast, after the BBC launched its podcast Dark Island.
An independent review found serious failures to report or act on allegations of child sexual abuse, including abuse by monk Thaddeus Kotik.
The eight-part podcast examines the island’s history and responsibility for what happened, and includes new allegations; the monk named in some allegations denied them.
The Abbey says it has implemented every review recommendation and is continuing to strengthen safeguarding, with a survivor serving on its Safeguarding Committee since 2024.
However, the Abbey’s latest statement did not include a new, dated independent assessment confirming the recommendations were completed.
A 2025 safeguarding audit recorded progress but said more improvement was needed, and pledged continued monitoring.
All eight podcast episodes are available on BBC Sounds, bringing renewed attention to survivors’ experiences and the island’s safeguarding.
Caldey Abbey issued a fresh apology to abuse survivors after the BBC launched its podcast Dark Island.
The Abbey acknowledged the harm caused and failures by people responsible for protecting survivors.
It said it had implemented all recommendations from an independent review and was continuing to strengthen safeguarding.
The review, published in 2024, documented failures to report and act on allegations of child sexual abuse.
The BBC series examines abuse on Caldey Island and questions of responsibility.
- Who
- Caldey Abbey apologised to people who suffered abuse on the island.
- What
- The Abbey issued a fresh apology and said it had implemented all recommendations from an independent review.
- When
- The Abbey sent its statement on October 23, 2026. The podcast launched on October 22.
- Where
- Caldey Island, off the Pembrokeshire coast.
- Why
- The apology followed the release of a BBC podcast examining abuse on the island and the Abbey’s response.
Caldey Abbey
Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency
Progress on recommendations
Caldey Abbey
The Abbey said it had implemented all recommendations from the independent review.
Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency
The agency’s audit recorded progress but said further improvement was needed.
Safeguarding
Caldey Abbey
The Abbey said it was continuing to strengthen safeguarding arrangements.
Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency
The agency’s chief executive said there was still “a long way to go in several areas”.
Police investigated abuse by Thaddeus Kotik but concluded there was little they could do because he had died in 1992.
An independent review led by Jan Pickles was published, documenting serious failures to report and act on allegations of child sexual abuse.
The Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency carried out an audit of the Abbey.
The agency published its audit, giving the Abbey an overall rating of “Results Being Achieved”.
The BBC launched its eight-part Dark Island podcast on BBC Sounds.
The Abbey sent a fresh apology to survivors and said it had implemented all recommendations from the independent review.
- Podcast
- Dark Island
- Episodes
- 8
- Presenter
- India Pollock
- Review lead
- Jan Pickles
- Audit rating
- Results Being Achieved
- Apology statement
- October 23, 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
You deserved to be safe. You deserved to be protected. You deserved to be heard and believed.
We wanted to create a series that could give a voice to victims, to piece all the parts of the island’s history together – and give people who’ve never heard about what happened on Caldey a chance to hear the entire story.
a long way to go in several areas
Was the magnet that drew them there that they could go and hide in plain sight?