The Government is to establish a commission of investigation into cases of sexual abuse at several schools spanning several decades. Survivors have such cases are being consulted about the best way forward as regards drawing up its terms of reference and the powers that the inquiry will be given. The decision is a result of allegations of historic sexual abuse at Blackrock College in Dublin made public by brothers David and Mark Ryan in 2022. Mr Mark Ryan has since died due to a stroke in September 2023.
A government scoping inquiry into such allegations in schools run by religious orders published yesterday reveals a total of 2,395 allegations of sexual abuse in respect of 308 schools involving 884 distinct alleged abusers. 14 Tipperary schools are included in yesterday’s scoping report revealing a total of 96 allegations involving 46 different abusers over a 30-year period. Religious run schools in Nenagh, Clonmel, Thurles, Carrick on Suir, Tipperary town, Templemore , Roscrea, Ballingarry, Fethard and Rockwell College are included in yesterday’s report. In some cases, the abuse is alleged to have occurred in primary schools but most allegations relate to secondary schools. The highest number of allegations in a single school in Tipperary relates to Rockwell College, run by the Spiritans who also ran Blackrock College in Dublin with 60 recorded allegations being made against 18 different abusers. If you need support due to the content of this report the national helpline number operating 24 hours is 1 800 778 888
