The Irish Government will establish an inquiry into abuse at schools run by religious orders in the country after an initial investigation found there had been 2395 allegations of abuse in 308 schools run by 42 religious orders in the period 1927-2023. Source: The Tablet.
The number of allegations is expected to rise following the publication of the Scoping Inquiry. The Irish police have appealed to anyone who wishes to report a crime relating to religious-run schools to contact them.
Minister for Education Norma Foley, described the report’s findings as “harrowing”. She said the level of abuse was shocking and acknowledged that the report contained “some of the most appalling accounts of sexual abuse”.
The Scoping Inquiry into Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools Run by Religious Orders reviewed allegations of historical child sexual abuse, made against religious, lay staff, visiting clergy and pupils.
Up to 884 alleged abusers were accused of perpetrating abuse on up to 40,000 children in day and boarding schools run by religious orders across Ireland. Half of those accused of sexual abuse have died.
The report, by senior counsel Mary O’Toole, was ordered by the government following an RTE Radio Documentary Blackrock Boys, which recounted abuse at Blackrock College, run by the Spiritan congregation.
The documentary recounted the experiences of brothers Mark and David Ryan, two survivors of sexual abuse. Following the broadcast many men came forward from Blackrock and other schools, outlining similar experiences.
Ms Norma Foley set up the inquiry to inform the government’s response to revelations of historical sexual abuse in schools run by religious orders.
Established in March 2023 as a non-statutory inquiry, one of its tasks was to set out a potential framework for a government response that would best meet the outcomes sought by survivors.
The inquiry sought testimonies from survivors of abuse as well as records from religious congregations. Almost 200 people offered written testimony of their experiences of abuse in schools and 180 survivors were interviewed.
The representative body of the Leadership of Missionaries and Religious in Ireland welcomed the publication of the report.
FULL STORY
Irish government to set up statutory inquiry into abuse at schools run by religious orders (By Sarah Mac Donald, The Tablet)
RELATED COVERAGE
Statement of Bishop Kevin Doran following the publication of the Report of the ‘Scoping Inquiry into Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools Run by Religious Orders’ (Irish Bishops Conference)
