Redress is essential in holding religious orders and schools to account, say abuse survivors

Extra.ie​

09-07-2025

Survivors of child sex abuse in Irish schools have questioned the establishment of a new Commission of Investigation without an accompanying mechanism for redress.
Advocacy groups warned that without redress, educational institutions and religious orders will be able to 'avoid accountability' for abuse of children and said the State inquiry 'must not become an obstacle to justice'.
Education Minister Helen McEntee yesterday announced details of a Commission of Investigation into historical child sex abuse in schools across Ireland, not just those being run by religious orders. Justice Minister Helen McEntee. Pic: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie
The need for a commission was highlighted by a scoping inquiry last year, which identified some 2,395 allegations of sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders, involving 884 alleged abusers in 308 schools across the country between 1927 and 2013.
Most allegations were from the records of 42 religious orders. Ms McEntee said that institutions and religious orders will be 'held accountable' for 'awful' crimes against children and will be expected to fund any potential redress scheme.
The commission – to be chaired by Judge Michael McGrath – will examine the handling of allegations, suspicions and concerns of sex abuse in schools; failure to treat concerns, causes and responsibility for such failure; failure to prevent harm; and the concealment of child sex abuse. His Hon. Mr Justice Michael McGrath. Pic: Collins Courts
It will take five years to complete at a cost of tens of millions of euros. A separate body of work will be undertaken 'in tandem' with the commission's work to explore how a redress scheme could operate, with religious orders and educational institutions expected to pay any resulting compensation.
'The most appropriate thing would be for orders to come forward themselves to offer redress schemes,' Ms McEntee said.
Advocacy groups One in Four and Restore Together – set up to support survivors of sexual abuse in Spiritan schools – have welcomed the establishment of the Commission of Investigation and the commitment to expand its remit to all schools, but sounded the alarm over further redress delays. Justice Minister Helen McEntee. Pic: Fran Veale
While the Spiritans have already publicly committed to undertaking their own redress scheme, Restore Together said that the inquiry should not 'inadvertently shield institutions from taking immediate responsibility'.
'Justice delayed is justice denied. Redress cannot wait,' it stated. Spokesman Philip Feddis added: 'How will the Government ensure that redress – both financial and therapeutic – advances and concludes in tandem with the five-year time limit prescribed by the minister?'
One in Four chief Deirdre Kenny said: 'While we appreciate this is complex, survivors have shown immense resilience and patience; therefore, we are concerned about any further delay. Delays disadvantage survivors and may allow institutions to avoid accountability and responsibility.' Jen Cummins, Social Democrats TD. Pic: File
Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins said the Government must be firm when seeking compensation from religious orders.
'We cannot have a repeat of this Government going to religious orders, cap in hand, pleading for contributions – as happened, most recently, with the mother and baby home redress scheme,' Ms Cummins, education spokeswoman for her party, said.
'If religious orders are unwilling to contribute to redress, the Government must go after them with a legal team, not a begging bowl.'
The Education Minister also promised that the Government will not repeat the mistakes of the Farrelly Commission of Investigation, which dragged on for years and ran over budget. 'I am confident that this can be done within a five-year time period,' Ms McEntee said.
The establishment of the new Commission of Investigation comes less than three months after the publication of the final report from the beleaguered Farrelly Commission. The Farrelly probe examined the care of a young disabled woman – 'Grace' – in a foster home in the southeast of the country.
The inquiry was originally meant to take place over one year. However, the publication of the final report was delayed on nine separate occasions. It will ultimately cost close to €20million and failed to make any substantive findings of abuse – despite interim reports doing so.
The report was widely criticised by children's rights advocates and disability campaigners, while the entire Commission of Investigation model came under scrutiny. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the State must evaluate 'whether there is a better way of cutting to the truth much more effectively'