An eight-month scoping inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse in schools run by religious orders cannot “right the wrong that was inflicted” on people, Education Minister Norma Foley has said.
However, she committed that the Government will work with survivors to ensure this can “never, ever happen again”.
A documentary aired on RTÉ Radio 1 last November called ‘Blackrock Boys’ revealed a new sex abuse scandal including accusations from 230 victims against 77 clerics in schools run by the Spiritan order.
READ MORE: Leo Varadkar says eviction ban was creating a 'new form of homelessness'
The allegations included claims by 57 people that they were abused as children at Blackrock College in Dublin from the 1970s.
Speaking at Government Buildings, Minister Foley said that the Government had established a scoping inquiry to look into revelations of historical sexual abuse in schools run by religious orders. It will be led by Senior Counsel Mary O’Toole.
She said that recent revelations have been “deeply disturbing and heartbreaking”.
She encouraged all victims to come forward and take part in the inquiry as she said that she trusted religious orders will fully comply.
Minister Foley said: “I’m asking and inviting survivors who might like to come forward that they might come forward either via email or telephone communication, just to register their interest.
“I want them to know that this will be a process where they will be central to all that we are hoping to achieve. We will value their contribution and it will be a safe space for them to do so.
“I’d like to conclude by paying an enormous debt of gratitude on a personal basis, and indeed on the behalf of the officials in the Department, to the survivors who, to this point, have already come forward and engaged with us.
“I'm very, very clear in my own heart, in my own mind, that nothing we will do will right the wrong that has been inflicted upon so many of them and the horrendous impact that it has had on their lives.
“We will do all that we can to the best of our ability to find an appropriate mechanism going forward to deal with what they want to bring to the table, their views, their thoughts.”
Ms Foley said that it is unclear how many people will come forward but that it is currently envisaged that the scoping inquiry will take about eight months.
She also said that she hopes that religious orders will cooperate fully with the inquiry.
She said that the Department has written directly to the Spiritans and while she would not go as far as saying it has been “constructive”, there has been engagement.
The Minister was also unable to say whether or not compensation would be ruled in or out at this stage, noting that Ms O’Toole has the “ability to look at everything”.
The inquiry will produce a report which will include recommendations to the Government on what steps should be taken.
READ NEXT:
- Social welfare: The schemes that could help with rent as eviction ban end date looms.
- Calls for 'Silence on the Sidelines' to protect match officials after horror attack on umpire
- Cabinet to approve new tech to bring down drones after Dublin Airport upheaval
- A&E and inpatient fees to be abolished at Irish hospitals
- Chaotic forecast shows heavy snow as temperatures plummet amid multiple warnings
Sign up to get politics news and analysis from Louise Burne direct to your inbox by clicking here.
