An investigation into the welfare and protection of children who attended a boarding school in Cork operated by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart is to commence, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has confirmed.
The move comes after a priest allegedly connected to child molestation was recently named in the Seanad.
In a statement issued tonight, HSE national director for children and families Gordon Jeyes said he had initiated an inquiry into the allegations which concerns Coláiste an Chroí Naofa, a school situated in Carraig na bhFear, about 12km outside of Cork city.
The inquiry is to be carried out in cooperation with An Garda Siochana.
An investigation by the Garda Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit is also under way.
Fianna Fáil Senator Mark Daly named the priest at the centre of the investigation in the Seanad in July. He said that despite seven cases being reported to four different Garda stations between 1986 and 2008, the Director of Public Prosecutions had declined to pursue a criminal prosecution.
Senator Daly said a religious order had, however, settled a civil case in relation to this priest before it was brought to court.
Coláiste an Chroí Naofa was established by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in 1950 as a seminary and was originally a boarding school for boys.
Since then it has evolved into a co-educational voluntary secondary school attended by approximately 450 boys and girls.
The school is currently managed by Catholic Education, an Irish Schools Trust (CEIST), a trustee body for the voluntary secondary schools fo the Daughters of Charity, the Presentation Sisters, the Sisters of the Christian Retreat, the Sisters of Mercy and the Missionairies of the Sacred Heart.
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Frances Fitzgerald and the Minister for Justice and Equality Alan Shatter have welcomed this evening’s announcement.
The minister said they were limited in what they could say publicly state at this time until the investigation is completed.
However, they said it was important to state that they had been assured that none of those against whom allegations have been made are currently engaged in any work activities which bring them into contact with children.
