Latest news with #religiousorders
Irish Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Disabled children suffered higher rates of sexual abuse, Dáil hears during debate on historical abuse
Children with disabilities experienced sexual abuse at a much higher rate than children without a disability, the Dáil heard as it debated historical child sexual abuse in day and boarding schools. Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion Michael Moynihan said the scoping inquiry leading to the newly established Commission of Investigation revealed the records of religious orders showed 'some 528 allegations of historical child sexual abuse across 17 special schools in respect of 190 alleged abusers'. The initial scoping inquiry was told of some 2,395 allegations of historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders. It was told it involved 884 alleged abusers in 308 schools countrywide between 1927 to 2013. The Minister of State said 'many families entrusted the care of their children into these communities' and 'this is unlikely to be the full extent of the historical abuse in special schools'. READ MORE It was 'truly appalling that the additional vulnerabilities of children in special schools could be so exploited and there has to be accountability', Mr Moynihan said. He was speaking during a debate on the motion to approve the draft order on the Commission of Investigation on the handling of historical child sexual abuse in day and boarding schools. [ Government will 'pursue all levers' to make religious orders pay redress to victims of school sex abuse Opens in new window ] Sinn Féin TD Pat Buckley said he had lost many friends who had been abused and it took more than 20 years to find out what happened. 'I lost two friends in primary school where the abuse started and I wasn't aware of it.' He said 'people ran away from school, came back, qualified as solicitors and everything, and unfortunately ended their lives'. He said some of the people who are responsible 'are still alive, some of the principals and vice-principals, Christian Brothers and lay teachers'. Labour's Ciarán Ahern said the Government and other institutions of power 'have excelled in the past at covering up the reality of child sexual abuse'. 'We need only look at the Carrigan report in 1931 to see the DNA of denial that blighted child protection in Ireland from the State's foundation'. The Dublin South-West TD said the Carrigan committee was appointed in 1930 and held 17 sessions. One witness, the police commissioner of the time, 'highlighted an alarming amount of sexual crime, increasing yearly, a feature of which was the large number of cases of criminal interference with girls and children from 16 years and downwards, many children under 10 years of age'. He said the police commissioner believed that less than 15 per cent of sexual crime was being prosecuted but government chose not to publish the report. Minister for Education Helen McEntee thanked 'every single survivor for their bravery, whether they were in a position to come forward or not'. She also thanked the late Mark Ryan and his brother David who came forward for the RTÉ documentary Blackrock Boys, after which the Government established a scoping inquiry. In an address to survivors she said: 'I am truly sorry for what was done to you and the devastating impacts it had on your lives, but I want to thank each and every person for their bravery.'
BreakingNews.ie
08-07-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Religious orders will be ‘held accountable' for sex abuse crimes in schools
Institutions and religious orders involved in historical sex abuse in schools will be 'held accountable' for the 'awful' crimes, the education minister has vowed. The Government approved the establishment of a commission of investigation into allegations of historical sex abuse in schools across the country. Advertisement Mr Justice Michael McGrath will chair the commission. Minister for Education Helen McEntee, who outlined the details of the commission of investigation, said that any redress scheme would have to be funded by the religious orders and organisations. Minister McEntee announces establishment of Commission of Investigation into historical sexual abuse in schools and appointment of Chair — Department of Education and Youth (@Education_Ire) July 8, 2025 Speaking at Government Buildings on Tuesday, Ms McEntee said that more works needed to be done to establish exactly what is owned and in the possession of the religious orders. The scoping inquiry found 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. Advertisement Most of the allegations were reported from the records of some 42 religious orders. The commission 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. Ms McEntee said work is ongoing around how such a redress scheme would work, but said that it must be funded by religious orders and any other school organisations 'involved in these awful crimes'. The Fine Gael minister said it will take five years to complete, at a cost of tens of millions of euros. Advertisement She said the Government was examining a number of ways to make this happen, including making legislative change. Ms McEntee said that any steps to secure or maximise payment for a redress scheme is being worked on by the Attorney General 'It is important to stress that the preferred outcome here is that religious institutions and organisations would come forward,' she added. 'The commission will be separated into two parts, but they will happen in tandem. Advertisement 'The first will be the investigation, and the intention is that the chair will be supported by two commissioners. 'One commissioner which will look at the investigation into handling of sexual abuse claims in religious schools. 'The second commissioner will start work on the investigation into sexual abuse in schools that were non-religious run schools. 'The third commissioner will then focus solely on the survivor engagement forum. Advertisement 'The forum itself will be non-adversarial. 'There will be no cross examination. 'It will be anonymised, and it will mean that every single person who wishes to come forward to tell their story, to tell what happened to them, in that non-adversarial way that they would be able to do so, and it will allow all survivors to do this.' She added: 'The work that is happening in parallel is further examination of the religious orders, what funds they have, what assets they have, what levers may be used by government to ensure that funding is provided by those religious groups and orders. 'It's only after that that obviously a decision would have to be taken on a redress scheme. 'So while it's happening in parallel, it's not the establishment of a redress scheme, it's for the work that is needed, but I'm really clear those who are responsible should be held accountable, and that includes financially, but there is a body of work still needed. 'There are a number of different measures that we're working on at the moment. Some would require legislative change. 'Some of those would relate to limitations for civil claims, the statute of limitations that obviously applies to individuals who are taking cases.' Ms McEntee said that a clear five-year time line has been set out to ensure that it is not an 'open-ended scheme'. 'The chair, accompanied by additional commissioners and a support team will be in place by October 1, and they have been given a five-year time limit to complete this work,' the minister added. 'Importantly, and very clearly outlined in the terms of reference is that no later than two years into their work, the chair must provide a report to the minister of the day, outlining whether or not the work of the commission of investigation is on track to be completed within the five years. 'If it is not, there is a very clear obligation to redefine the scope or the work that is being done to make sure that this is done on time. 'I am absolutely committed and determined in supporting what will be an independent commission of investigation, but supporting their work that this is done on time, that survivors do not have to wait, that this does not go on indefinitely, and that importantly, the terms of reference would set out how we investigate the handling of what happened in schools who was responsible, where abuses were raised, where concerns were raised, what happened then, that that can be identified. 'But if we are not on track, if the chair feels that there are changes that need to be made, that will have to be outlined very clearly in a note to the minister no later than two years.' If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at or visit Rape Crisis Help.
