Ireland’s Catholic Church and wider society are in shock following revelations on 3 September that an inquiry has uncovered significant numbers of uncovered cases of child sexual abuse in Catholic religious schools.
A total of 2,395 allegations were found relating to 308 schools, involving 884 alleged abusers, over half of whom are now deceased. The inquiry called on the Irish Government to set up a redress scheme and that religious orders should contribute.
Seventeen special schools – schools for children with disabilities or behavioural difficulties – recorded 590 allegations involving 190 alleged abusers, a particularly high percentage.
