Almost 2,400 allegations of historical sexual abuse were recorded by 308 schools run by orders across Ireland
- Barry Moran, Content Editor
- Published: 18:36, 5 Sep 2024
- Updated: 18:42, 5 Sep 2024
TOP cop Drew Harris says gardai will investigate if the widespread abuse of schoolchildren by religious orders was orchestrated by evil paedophile gangs.
The nation was rocked this week by a damning report into historical sexual abuse at institutions run by priests over many decades.
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Gardai have urged victims or witnesses to come forwardCredit: RTE News
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Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said authorities now had ‘a moral obligation’ to seek accountability for those affectedCredit: RTE News
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Jack Manning was previously accused in some of the schools listed
Almost 2,400 allegations of historical sexual abuse were recorded by 308 schools run by orders across Ireland, the scoping inquiry revealed.
The shocking investigation said the claims were made against 884 alleged abusers in day and boarding schools run by 42 religious orders.
Speaking today, Commissioner Harris said the Garda National Protective Services Bureau was co-ordinating the investigations and a number of known convicted sex offenders had been identified.
He said: “That’s why we’ve a national unit now. Previously, the national bureau that we have now for protective services was in existence, but we have a co-ordinated national response. That specifically, as it follows individuals, should be able to identify whether there was any type of organised element.
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“Whether that will result in any further victims, we have to see.”
Some of those identified were still in prison, while others had passed away.
The Commissioner also appealed to victims and witnesses to come forward, but said, so far this week, there have been no new contacts since the report was published.
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee described the abuse as “barbaric” and said authorities now had “a moral obligation” to seek accountability for those affected.
She also called on religious orders to “put their hands up”, come forward and contribute “significantly” to a victims’ redress scheme.
She explained: “We don’t want to see a redress scheme going on for years. We need to work it through and the religious orders need to come forward and contribute to this significantly. They should not have to be asked.”
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Although no alleged accusers were named in the publication, a number of individuals were previously accused in some of the schools listed.
They include former Christian Brother, Jack Manning, who targeted numerous boys while teaching at Westland Row CBS in Dublin.
Manning received a three-year sentence in 2021 following his guilty plea to a series of sexual assaults on four boys between 1972 and 1975.
Blackrock College had previously employed accused predator Brother Luke McCaffrey, who had worked in Willow Park primary school between the years 1955 and 1995.
Earlier, Retired Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin admitted he found details of the report “frightening”.
‘Very shocking’
He told RTE Radio: “Sexual abuse of children is a vile thing, but sexual abuse of particularly vulnerable children is very shocking. The number and the incidences are frightening, but the reality is much greater and that’s the sad thing.
“For example, if you look at the three paying schools, one of the reasons for this is I think most people may have thought this inquiry was primarily about those schools.
“And this would mean, I think, that the numbers regarding other schools is probably underestimated and probably higher.”
He added that criminal prosecutions should continue and victims should be compensated for the sick abuse suffered.
Dr Martin said: “Not only did they do immense damage to children, they also damaged the good name of the backbone of their own institutions, which are their own brothers, sisters who do good work and were blameless in the law.”
GARDA APPEAL
FOLLOWING the publishing of the report Gardai have urged anyone who was abused in a school run by a religious order to make contact with them.
They have also appealed to anyone who may have witnessed abuse to come forward.
In a statement they said they are aware that many survivors will be disclosing the information for the first time and that it will be handled in a “sensitive matter”.
A spokesperson said: “An Garda Siochana is inviting anyone who believes they were the victim of a criminal act relating to Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools run by Religious Orders, to please come forward and report this.
“An Garda Siochana is fully aware of the profound impact on the lives of those who were subject to such abuse, many of whom who may only be disclosing this information for the first time.”
They said they will “where possible, progress matters through investigation” but there may be limitations “due to matters such as the unavailability of evidence over time or suspects and/or witnesses being deceased.”
If this is the case, this will be thoroughly explained to victims.
