MINISTER FOR Children Frances Fitzgerald last night welcomed the setting up of a HSE helpline following allegations of clerical sex abuse at a Cork school.
The helpline will offer support to those who attended Carraig na bhFearr boarding school which was run by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.
Several former students have complained they were sexually abused at the school and early last month, at the Missionaries’ invitation, Ian Elliott of the Catholic Church’s child protection watchdog began auditing the religious order’s response to all allegations.
Ms Fitzgerald welcomed the setting up, at the request of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, a separate helpline to provide counselling and support to survivors.
The helpline will be run by the “Towards Healing” counselling and support service.
Gardaí also issued a statement saying they had begun an investigation following “allegations and concerns regarding the welfare and protection of children” who attended the school.
They are inviting anyone wishing to provide information or to report a criminal offence to contact a dedicated phone line at the domestic violence and sexual assault investigation unit at the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation. An investigation has also been initiated by HSE national director Gordon Jeyes.
On Monday night Ms Fitzgerald said she “met Gordon Jeyes to discuss the issues involved and welcomed the priority being given by the HSE to the inquiry”.
In the Seanad on July 27th Fianna Fáil Senator Mark Daly named a priest who had taught at the school.
Despite seven cases of alleged child abuse against the priest being reported to four different Garda stations between 1986 and 2008, the DPP declined to pursue a criminal prosecution against him, said Mr Daly.
The HSEs free phone number, open from 10am to 10pm daily is 1800 742 800.
The Towards Healing helpline number is 1800 303 528 and will operate 11am-1am from tomorrow to 8th September.
The Garda confidential line can be reached on 1-800-666-111.
