LIMERICK (IRELAND)
Limerick Post [Limerick, Ireland]
September 12, 2024
By Bernie English
THERE were at last 10 Limerick victims who made allegations of abuse against schools to the just published Scoping Inquiry into abuse of children in schools run by religious orders.
And half of that number were pupils at one Limerick school – Scoil Iosagain CBS Primary School, Sexton Street – the Limerick Post can reveal.
51 allegations relate to seven alleged abusers at the CBS primary school on Sexton Street.
The Limerick Post has learned their were 10 individuals involved in making complaints against six of the schools listed in the report.
Figures for the number of accusers in the remaining 10 schools were not available at time of going to press.
Of the 2,395 allegations of historic child rape and sexual abuse in religious-run schools nationwide revealed in the shocking Scoping Inquiry report, 158 allegations were revealed relating to 47 abusers in 16 Limerick schools.
Gardaí have been briefed on the contents of the report, which shows widespread child sexual abuse between 1960s and 1990s.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has said Gardaí are investigating if the abuse of children by religious orders detailed in the report was organised and co-ordinated by so-called paedophile rings.
Commissioner Harris said the Garda National Protective Services Bureau was co-ordinating the Garda investigations and that a number of known convicted sex offenders had been identified.
Some were still in prison, while others had passed away.
Meanwhile, Gardaí have appealed to anyone who wishes to report a crime relating to historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders to get in contact.
Up to Tuesday of this week, 160 people had gotten in touch making fresh claims of abuse.
The options for reporting available are: by emailing GNPSB_SCMU@garda.ie; by confidentially phoning the Garda Child Sexual Abuse Reporting Line on 1800 555 222; by calling to a local Garda Station.
“Anyone contacting An Garda Síochána on such matters will receive personal contact as soon as is practicable,” a Garda spokesperson said.
“An Garda Síochána will deal with any matters reported by complainants in a sensitive manner and will, where possible, progress matters through investigation”.
Bishop of Limerick Brendan Leahy has said that the distressing, harrowing, and devastating impact of the sex abuse at schools has both destroyed the lives of victims and overwhelmed many in the church.
In a letter to parishes in response to the publication of the scoping inquiry into abuse at religious-run schools, Bishop Leahy said: “We pray for those who have voiced the 2,395 allegations of sexual abuse by 884 abusers in 308 schools run by religious orders. The cries of abuse pierce heaven. The destruction of innocence, of lives is beyond comprehension. As much as we try, there is no combination of words that can match the pain and evil inflicted.”
Bishop Leahy said that beyond the horror inflicted on victims, the abuse impacts deep into the heart of the church.
“The whirl of the reports of devastation visited upon these survivors is a sword also through our own hearts,” he said.
“We must see those who abused for what they are. Perpetrators of the most horrific and vile crimes that destroyed young lives.”
Meanwhile, the Government has confirmed that a commission of investigation will be set up to investigate claims of sex abuse in schools and other lay institutions across the country.