Minister for Education announces Commission of Investigation to be set up and Report of Scoping Inquiry to be published

Minister for Education Norma Foley TD has announced that a Commission of Investigation is to be established, following a recommendation in the Report of the Scoping Inquiry set up to examine historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders.

The Scoping Inquiry has been told of some 2,395 allegations of historical sexual abuse, involving 884 alleged abusers in 308 schools across all parts of the country between the years 1927 to 2013. Most of these allegations have been reported from the records of some 42 religious orders who currently or previously ran schools in Ireland.

The establishment of a State inquiry into historical sexual abuse is one of a number of recommendations made by Senior Counsel, Mary O’Toole in her report to the Minister.

The Scoping Inquiry organised a Survivor Engagement process where those who had experienced sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders were invited to come forward and share their views regarding an appropriate State response.

Participants reported experiences of sexual abuse in primary, post-primary and special schools, both public and private, run by religious orders across the country.

The report of the Scoping Inquiry contains detailed accounts of sexual abuse, rape and sexual assault and is deeply distressing to read.

Minister Foley is making the full report of the independent Scoping Inquiry available to those who participated in the Scoping Inquiry’s Survivor Engagement process first, in line with her previous commitment to them and the sensitive and personal nature of its contents. It will subsequently be published online later today.

Minister Foley said: “The Report of the Scoping Inquiry is a harrowing document, containing some of the most appalling accounts of sexual abuse. The scale and horror of what people described in their interviews with the Scoping Inquiry is shocking, and the lasting impact on the lives of those survivors cannot be overstated. I have been deeply moved by the courage, fortitude and openness of all those who have shared their experiences.

“I am thinking of all those who came forward today as part of the Scoping Inquiry process and indeed those who are not in a position to do so at this point in their lives.  I wish to remember and acknowledge in particular the late Mark Ryan, who, with his brother David,  was instrumental in the establishment of the Scoping Inquiry. He is very much in our hearts today, and I am mindful that the first anniversary of his passing is approaching in the coming weeks.

“I am announcing today that the Government has accepted the principal recommendation of the Report of the Scoping Inquiry, which is for the establishment of a Commission of Investigation. Historical sexual abuse is a profoundly serious matter and needs to be examined in detail.

“One of the most compelling aspects of the Report is that older participants provided devastating accounts of how sexual abuse in childhood has affected their entire lives, from their schooldays through adolescence, early adulthood and right through to later years.

“I am pleased to note that the report states that current child protection measures in schools are robust and effective and I am conscious that the safety of children today is a matter of paramount concern to survivors and all of society.”

The Scoping Inquiry report further recommends that consideration be given by government to establishing a redress scheme for survivors of historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders.

Further recommendations relate to improving the experience for survivors in legal processes and the establishment of dedicated support services for survivors, particularly in relation to the Commission and potential participation in that process.

The Scoping Inquiry commissioned independent expert reports on child protection in our schools and restorative justice as part of its work.

Minister Foley said: “I also want to acknowledge that there are many other people whose work and advocacy have brought us to this important moment, and to extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who has contributed to this process in any way, whether through their own participation or their support for a family member or friend. I also want to thank the Scoping Inquiry team, the Lead, Mary O’Toole, and the survivor engagement lead, Kieran McGrath for their diligent work in producing what is a very detailed and thorough report.”

As already referred to, the report of the Scoping Inquiry is being sent first to survivors.  Information on supports available will be sent to survivors with the report and is also available on the Scoping Inquiry’s website. Details on supports for schools and their staff and students, will be made available to the schools’ management bodies to enable them to provide any necessary support to schools.

If you have been affected by any of the issues discussed in the Report of the Scoping Inquiry, information on support is available below. Further information on support is available at the Scoping Inquiry’s website.

Support

The organisation One in Four provides services to adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. One in Four can be contacted by calling 01 662 4070 or by completing the form at www.oneinfour.ie/contact.

If you wish to report an allegation of sexual abuse you can contact your local Garda station, the Garda Sexual Crime Management Unit (01-6663430) or the Garda Child Sexual Abuse Reporting Line (1800 555 222), which is a confidential and free service available on a 24/7 basis. Alternatively, you can email GNPSB_SCMU@garda.ie

 

Fógraíonn an tAire Oideachais go bhfuil Coimisiún Imscrúdúcháin le bunú agus go bhfuil Tuarascáil an Fhiosrúcháin Scóipe le foilsiú

*** FAOI LÁNCHOSC DOCHT GO DTÍ 4:30PM DÉ MÁIRT, AN 3 MEÁN FÓMHAIR 2024 ***

D’fhógair an tAire Oideachais, Norma Foley TD, go bhfuil Coimisiún Imscrúdúcháin le bunú, tar éis moladh a rinneadh i dTuarascáil an Fhiosrúcháin Scóipe a bunaíodh chun scrúdú a dhéanamh ar dhrochúsáid ghnéasach stairiúil i scoileanna lae agus cónaithe arna reáchtáil ag oird rialta.

Insíodh don Fhiosrúcháin Scóipe faoi 2,395 líomhain faoi dhrochúsáid ghnéasach stairiúil, ina raibh 884 drochúsáideoir líomhnaithe i gceist in 308 scoil ar fud gach cuid den tír idir na blianta 1927 go 2013. Tuairiscíodh an chuid is mó de na líomhaintí seo ó na taifid de 42 ord rialta a reáchtálann scoileanna in Éirinn faoi láthair nó a reáchtáil scoileanna in Éirinn roimhe seo.

Is é bunú fiosrúchán Stáit faoi dhrochúsáid ghnéasach stairiúil ceann amháin de líon na moltaí a rinne an tAbhcóide Sinsearach, Mary O’Toole ina tuarascáil chuig an Aire.

D’eagraigh an Fiosrúchán Scóipe próiseas Rannpháirtíochta Marthanóirí inar tugadh cuireadh dóibh siúd a d’fhulaing drochúsáid ghnéasach i scoileanna lae agus cónaithe arna reáchtáil ag oird rialta teacht chun tosaigh agus a dtuairimí a roinnt maidir le freagairt iomchuí ón Stát.

Thuairiscigh rannpháirtithe eispéiris de dhrochúsáid ghnéasach i mbunscoileanna, in iar-bhunscoileanna agus i scoileanna speisialta, scoileanna poiblí agus príobháideacha araon, arna reáchtáil ag oird rialta ar fud na tíre.

I dTuarascáil an Fhiosrúcháin Scóipe, tá mionchuntais ar dhrochúsáid ghnéasach, éigniú agus ionsaí gnéasach agus is tuarascáil í atá fíordhian lena léamh.

Tá tuarascáil iomlán an Fhiosrúcháin Scóipe neamhspleách á cur ar fáil ar dtús ag an Aire Foley dóibh siúd a ghlac páirt i bpróiseas Rannpháirtíochta Marthanóirí an Fhiosrúcháin Scóipe, i gcomhréir leis an ngealltanas a thug sí dóibh roimhe seo agus leis an nádúr íogair agus pearsanta dá bhfuil inti. Foilseofar í ina dhiaidh sin ar líne níos déanaí inniu.

Dúirt an tAire Foley: “Is doiciméad coscrach í Tuarascáil an Fhiosrúcháin Scóipe, ina bhfuil roinnt de na cuntais is uafásaí ar dhrochúsáid ghnéasach. Tá sé millteanach an scála agus an t-uafás a ndearna daoine cur síos orthu ina n-agallaimh leis an bhFiosrúchán Scóipe, agus ní féidir áibhéil a dhéanamh faoin tionchar buan atá ar shaol na marthanóirí sin. Chuaigh misneach, neart agus oscailteacht na ndaoine úd uile a roinn a n-eispéiris go mór i bhfeidhm orm.

“Táim ag smaoineamh orthu siúd uile inniu a tháinig chun tosaigh mar chuid de phróiseas an Fhiosrúcháin Scóipe agus go deimhin orthu siúd nach bhfuil in ann a leithéid a dhéanamh sa tráth seo ina saol. Is mian liom cuimhneamh go háirithe ar Mark Ryan nach maireann agus aitheantas a thabhairt dó, a bhí lárnach, in éineacht lena dheartháir David, i mbunú an Fhiosrúcháin Scóipe. Tá sé go mór inár gcroí inniu, agus tá a fhios agam go bhfuil cothrom bliana ó fuair sé bás ag teacht aníos sna seachtainí amach romhainn.

“Táim ag fógairt inniu go bhfuil an Rialtas tar éis glacadh le príomh-mholadh Thuarascáil an Fhiosrúcháin Scóipe, agus is é sin Coimisiún Imscrúdúcháin a bhunú. Is ábhar fíorthromchúiseach í drochúsáid ghnéasach stairiúil agus is gá í a scrúdú go mion.

“Ceann de na gnéithe is láidre sa Tuarascáil ná gur thug rannpháirtithe níos sine cuntais mhillteanacha den chaoi inar chuir drochúsáid ghnéasach ina n-óige isteach ar a saol iomlán, óna laethanta ar scoil trína ndéaga, nuair a bhí siad ina ndaoine fásta óga agus anois agus iad amach sna blianta.

“Táim sásta a chur in iúl go luaitear sa tuarascáil gur bearta láidre agus éifeachtacha iad na bearta reatha um chosaint sonraí atá i scoileanna agus tuigim go mór gur ábhar imní í sábháilteacht leanaí atá fíorthábhachtach do mharthanóirí agus don tsochaí uile.”

I dtuarascáil an Fhiosrúcháin Scóipe, moltar freisin go ndéanfaidh an rialtas breithniú ar scéim sásaimh a bhunú do mharthanóirí de dhrochúsáid ghnéasach stairiúil i scoileanna lae agus cónaithe arna reáchtáil ag oird rialta.

Tá moltaí eile ann a bhaineann le feabhas a chur ar an eispéireas do mharthanóirí sna próisis dhlíthiúla agus bunú seirbhísí tacaíochta tiomnaithe do mharthanóirí, go háirithe ó thaobh an Choimisiúin agus an rannpháirtíocht fhéideartha sa phróiseas sin.

Choimisiúnaigh an Fiosrúchán Scóipe saintuarascálacha neamhspleácha maidir le cosaint leanaí inár scoileanna agus ceartas aisiríoch mar chuid den obair a rinne sé.

Dúirt an tAire Foley: “Is mian liom a lua freisin go bhfuil an pointe cinniúnach seo sroichte againn de bharr obair agus abhcóideacht cuid mhór daoine eile, agus is mian liom buíochas ó chroí a ghabháil le gach duine a chuir leis an bpróiseas seo in aon slí, cibé acu trína rannpháirtíocht féin nó trí thacaíocht a thabhairt do dhuine muinteartha nó do chara. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil freisin le foireann an Fhiosrúcháin Scóipe, an Ceannasaí, Mary O'Toole, agus an ceannasaí rannpháirtíochta marthanóirí, Kieran McGrath, as an obair dhíograiseach a rinne siad le tuarascáil chomh mionsonraithe agus críochnúil a chur ar fáil.” 

Mar a luadh roimhe seo, tá tuarascáil an Fhiosrúcháin Scóipe á cur chuig marthanóirí ar dtús. Cuirfear eolas faoi na tacaíochtaí atá ar fáil chuig marthanóirí in éineacht leis an tuarascáil agus tá sí ar fáil freisin ar shuíomh gréasáin an Fhiosrúcháin Scóipe. Cuirfear sonraí faoi thacaíochtaí do scoileanna agus dá mbaill foirne agus dá scoláirí, ar fáil d’fhorais bhainistíochta na scoileanna le go mbeidh siad in ann aon tacaíocht riachtanach a chur ar fáil do scoileanna.

Má chuaigh aon cheann de na saincheisteanna a pléadh i dTuarascáil an Fhiosrúcháin Scóipe i bhfeidhm ort, tá eolas maidir le tacaíocht ar fáil thíos. Tá tuilleadh eolais maidir le tacaíocht ar fáil ar shuíomh gréasáin an Fhiosrúcháin Scóipe.

Tacaíocht

Cuireann an eagraíocht One in Four (Duine Amháin As Ceathrar) seirbhísí ar fáil do mharthanóirí aosaigh de dhrochúsáid ghnéasach leanaí. Is féidir teagmháil a dhéanamh le One in Four trí ghlaoch a chur ar 01 662 4070 nó tríd an bhfoirm a chomhlánú ag www.oneinfour.ie/contact.

Más mian leat líomhain faoi dhrochúsáid ghnéasach a thuairisciú, is féidir leat teagmháil a dhéanamh le do stáisiún áitiúil de chuid an Gharda Síochána, Aonad Bainistíochta an Gharda Síochána um Choireanna Gnéis (01-6663430) nó Líne Thuairiscithe an Gharda Síochána maidir le Drochúsáid Ghnéasach (1800 555 222), ar seirbhís faoi rún agus saor in aisce í atá ar fáil ar bhonn 24/7. Nó, is féidir leat ríomhphost a chur chuig GNPSB_SCMU@garda.ie.