If religious orders are unwilling to contribute to redress, the government must go after them with a legal team, not a begging bowl
The decision to establish a commission of investigation into historic sexual abuse in schools is welcome but the government must ensure religious orders contribute to redress, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins.
“I welcome the announcement today that a commission of investigation, into historic sexual abuse in schools, will be established. The thousands of people who were abused in these schools have waited far too long for this action.
“A scoping report, published last year, into abuse at religious-run schools was horrific. It found that hundreds of predators subjected thousands of children to relentless sexual abuse.
“Survivors described being molested, stripped naked, raped and drugged in an atmosphere of terror and silence. The abuse happened in classrooms, offices, and sports facilities.
“The scale of the abuse was such that Gardaí began an investigation into whether it was organised and co-ordinated by paedophile rings.
“This endemic sexual abuse is a scandal of unprecedented and unparalleled proportions. These predators acted with impunity, were protected by religious orders, and they destroyed the lives of countless innocent children.
“This is why the Minister must ensure that religious orders contribute to any redress scheme. We cannot have a repeat of this government going to religious orders, cap in hand, pleading for contributions – as happened, most recently, with the mother and baby home redress scheme.
“If religious orders are unwilling to contribute to redress, the government must go after them with a legal team, not a begging bowl.”