Religious Order Schools To Face Cabinet Inquiry For Sexual Abuse
Several religious order schools would face a full-scale inquiry which is confirmed by the cabinet, in response to the allegations of sexual abuse. The schools have been there for a number of decades but now, the complaints regarding sexual abuse are alarming.
The cabinet assured that a chairperson would be appointed for the inquiry commission and that terms of reference would be detailed clearly.
(Also read: Enoch Burke Summoned to High Court Over Alleged Breach of Trespass Order by Wilson’s Hospital School)
The cabinet was told that the commission of investigation would have to look into thousands of cases for which wide-ranging powers would be used.
Consultation sessions would be carried out for the survivors so that a thorough inquiry is conducted with them. The session would take place throughout the day before the publication of the report. It was revealed that the sessions would start after 6 pm.
Some of the staff members found the findings shocking when preliminary research for the investigation was being conducted. The findings were also revealed to the cabinet.
The investigation staff told that there is a large number of schools accused of sexual abuse whereas in some of the government schools, it could “just be the beginning” of a massive issue. Non-Catholic schools are also under scrutiny.
Last night, a meeting was held that included Taoiseach Simon Harris, Tanaiste Michael Martin and Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman. After the meeting of these prominent heads, it was decided to take some drastic measures and instigate a probe against the historic sexual abuse at Blackrock College in Dublin.
Strict actions against religious order schools
A deeper probe on the schools operated by Roman Catholic religious organisations was conducted. Several names were reported that were associated with these schools.
Simon Harris assured that the survivors would be the first ones to get details of the progress of the cabinet inquiry related to religious order schools’ abuse.
Speaking at the cabinet meeting this morning, Mr Harris was full of gratitude for the Minister of Education, Norma Foley who handled the issue with grace and kept the survivors calm.
Senior Counsel Mary O’Toole wrote a 700-page report that the minister of education delivered to the cabinet. The publishing is scheduled for a later time today.
Simon Harris pointed out that “It’s a statement of fact that the minister has reviewed the scoping report that has been carried out. She and I and everyone in the government has said that in terms of the next steps the people we want to know first are the survivors- and the representatives the minister has been engaging with.”
He emphasised that it was the exact same process that would be followed and the proceedings would take place by following the terms of reference.
With the publication of the “Blackrock Boys” media release, the claims of sexual abuse at Dublin’s Blackrock College came to light. It included devastating stories of the survivors, the two brothers, Mark and David Ryan, of repeated sexual abuse at South Dublin school.
After the broadcast, several students came to the front and exposed the same incident that they had to undergo.
Within seven days, 233 men came to join the brothers and supported their allegations against Blackrock College and various other schools.
Mark Ryan died in London due to a stroke at the age of 62. His brother was devastated and said that it was a huge shock for him.
His brother explained that Mark was caring towards him after the incidents were revealed. Consequently, their bond got stronger as he was by his side each time he needed him, he elucidated. “He was my rock. A rock”, he said.
The allegations of sexual abuse also started coming from Spiritan Congregation which apologised to the victims. The allegations date back to the 1970s.
