The Scoping Inquiry report into sexual abuse in schools run by religious orders has identified 308 schools where the alleged abuse took place.
In total, the inquiry found 844 alleged abusers in schools run by 42 religious orders, amounting to nearly 2,400 allegations of sexual abuse.
The report also provides a list of the schools and the number of allegations and alleged abusers at each one.
It shows that between between 1927 and 2013, allegations of sexual abuse were made at six such Laois schools.
The figures presented in the table were supplied to the Scoping Inquiry by the religious orders themselves, in response to requests for a breakdown of numbers.
In regards to Laois, the report shows at least ten individuals alleged that they had been abused by at least six different abusers while attending schools under the patronage of religious orders in Laois.
Three of the Laois schools named in the report were run by the Christian Brothers.
In Portlaoise, one allegation was made against one alleged abuser at both the Christian Brothers Primary School and the Christian Brothers Secondary in Portlaoise.
Two allegations were made against one alleged abuser at Christian Brothers Portarlington CBS Primary School.
In Colaiste Iosagain Secondary School in Portarlington, which was run by the Congregation of the Presentation Sisters, three allegations were made against three alleged abusers.
In Mountrath Community School, which was under the joint patronage of the Brigidine Sisters (CSB) andPatrician Brothers, there were two allegations against two alleged abusers.
There were four allegations relating to one alleged abuser at Don Bosco Salesian College, Ballinakill – which became Heywood Community School in 1990.
An allegation, or allegations, have also been made in relation to the Patrician Brothers run Ballyfin College in Ballyfin.
However, no breakdown was given for the Patrician Brother schools.
The inquiry revealed there were 21 allegations against 18 alleged abusers across ten schools under the patronage of the Patrician Brothers.
The report says that sexual abuse happened between the 1960s and the early 1990s, with the highest number of reported incidents occurring in the early to mid-1970s.
The report heard from many survivors who said that “their childhood stopped the day the abuse started.”
The report says: “The number of alleged abusers on a school by school breakdown may be larger than the overall number of alleged abusers for any given religious order as individual alleged abusers may have been associated with more than one school, or due to possible duplication.
“It has not been possible to cross-check or verify all figures and it should be noted that the Scoping Inquiry is not making findings of fact but setting out the information provided.
“The figures presented giving a school by school breakdown are as we have received them.
“Any differences in the figures for allegations may be due to duplication where orders have gathered information from both their own records and those of individual schools.”
Commenting on the report, Tainiaste Micheal Martin said: “I would like to thank Mary O’Toole SC and Kieran McGrath for all their work in producing the Report of the Scoping Inquiry into Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools Run by Religious Orders.
“I also commend the immense courage of all the survivors who came forward to tell the harrowing stories of sexual abuse contained in this report.
“The level and scale of the horrific abuse within schools revealed in the report’s pages is shocking, and there must be full accountability and justice for those abused.
“I commend Minister Norma Foley for her thorough and survivor-led approach in producing this Scoping Inquiry as she works to establish a Commission of Investigation to further examine the historic sexual abuse.
“Much more work needs to be done and I know the Minister will continue to work on the recommendations of the report in consultation with survivors.
“Over many decades, there has been significant work to deal with the abuse suffered in a wide range of institutions.
“This report reveals the severe impact of sexual abuse on the lives of survivors. It is vital the needs of these survivors remain at the heart of our response.”
The Irish Mirror are reporting today that Gardai are set to launch a new investigation following the publication of the report.
A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana said: “An Garda Síochána is appealing to anyone who wishes to report a crime relating to Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools Run by Religious Orders.
“For the purpose of reporting to An Garda Síochána, the following options are available:
- “By emailing GNPSB_SCMU@garda.ie
- By phoning the Garda Child Sexual Abuse Reporting Line on 1800 555 222. This is a confidential and free service available 24/7
- Calling to your local Garda Station
“Anyone contacting An Garda Síochána on such matters will receive personal contact as soon as is practicable.
“An Garda Síochána 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 Síochána 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.
“An Garda Síochána will deal with any matters reported by complainants in a sensitive manner and will, where possible, progress matters through investigation.
“While it is our responsibility to effectively deal with all complaints and information received, there be limitations as to the action we can take in some cases due to matters such as the unavailability of evidence over time or suspects and/or witnesses being deceased.
“Where these factors are present, An Garda Síochána will diligently explain such limitations to complainants.
“The Garda National Protective Service Bureau will maintain oversight of these investigations which will be investigated by specially trained Gardaí attached to Divisional Protective Service Units in every Garda Division nationwide.
“An Garda Síochána is also appealing to anyone who may have information, including as a witness, relating to crimes of Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools run by Religious Orders, to make contact with them so that such crimes can be investigated.”
