Proposals for an inquiry into sexual abuse by priests at private fee-paying schools are expected to be brought to Government “shortly”, the Department of Education has said.
Minister for Education Norma Foley had privately informed TDs and Senators she hoped to announce what form an inquiry into past abuse at the schools run by religious congregations would take before Christmas.
However, this was pushed into the new year, with January mooted as the likely time for an announcement regarding the details of the inquiry. This has not yet happened, with preparatory work said to be taking longer than expected.
The Department of Education on Monday said it was not yet in a position to provide a “definitive timeline”, but added that “it is anticipated that proposals will be brought to Government shortly”.
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In a statement, it said: “The sexual abuse of a child by a teacher or other school employee is a criminal act that is repugnant to the whole community.
[ Second complaint made to gardaí about alleged abuse at Castleknock CollegeOpens in new window ]
“Crimes that have been committed should, in the first instance, be fully investigated by An Garda Síochána and it is important to ensure that any such investigation would not be compromised.”
The department said it “has not indicated that it would be necessary to await the outcome of Garda investigations before establishing an inquiry”.
“Any inquiry has to be carefully considered so as not to impede any ongoing Garda investigations,” it said. “It is important that survivors know that there will be a serious response and Government is considering how this can best be achieved, having regard to the ongoing Garda investigation and the wishes of survivors.
“Minister Foley has been engaging with survivors and others in this regard.”
A series of fresh abuse allegation had emerged late last year following the airing of an RTÉ Radio Documentary on One episode entitled Blackrock Boys. It featured brothers Mark (61) and David (58) revealing their abuse on the Blackrock campus by Spiritan priest Fr Tom O’Byrne in the 1970s.
[ Number of abuse contacts to Spiritan congregation approaches 500Opens in new window ]
This led to a torrent of claims being made against other Spiritan priests as well as clerics in other religious congregations which ran some of the most prestigious schools in Ireland.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who was tánaiste at the time, said there was “no perfect option” for the type of inquiry to be set up. He said it would be victim-led and he would like to avoid a “a highly legalistic in private, statutory investigation that is so wide-ranging and involves so many lawyers that it doesn’t report for five or six years, and that is a risk”.
