An Garda Síochána is encouraging anyone who believes they were the victim of a criminal act relating to Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools run by Religious Orders to "please come forward and report this."
The appeal was issued the day after it emerged that a Scoping Inquiry, which was set up to examine historical sexual abuse in Ireland's day and boarding schools run by religious orders, heard of some 2,395 allegations of historical sexual abuse involving 884 alleged abusers in 308 schools across all parts of Ireland between 1927 and 2013.
Ireland's national police force An Garda Síochána said on Wednesday that the following options are available for reporting:
- By emailing [email protected]
- By phoning the Garda Child Sexual Abuse Reporting Line on 1800 555 222. This is a confidential and free service available 24/7
- Calling to your local Garda Station
An Garda Síochána said on Wednesday that anyone making contact on such matters will receive personal contact as soon as is practicable.
The Irish police force added that it is "fully aware of the profound impact on the lives of those who were subject to such abuse, many of whom may only be disclosing this information for the first time.
"An Garda Síochána will deal with any matters reported by complainants in a sensitive manner and will, where possible, progress matters through investigation.
"While it is our responsibility to effectively deal with all complaints and information received, there be limitations as to the action we can take in some cases due to matters such as the unavailability of evidence over time or suspects and/or witnesses being deceased. Where these factors are present, An Garda Síochána will diligently explain such limitations to complainants."
An Garda Síochána said that the Garda National Protective Service Bureau will maintain oversight of these investigations which will be investigated by specially trained Gardaí attached to Divisional Protective Service Units in every Garda Division nationwide.
An Garda Síochána is also appealing to anyone who may have information, including as a witness, relating to crimes of Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools run by Religious Orders, to make contact with them so that such crimes can be investigated.
In addition to several organizations in Ireland, Ireland's Department of Education has recommended ways that victims overseas can get support, including ICAP, the London Irish Centre, Fréa - Renewing Roots, and the Coventry Irish Society in Britain, as well as Coalition of Irish Immigration Centres in the US.
Ireland's Department of Education said on Tuesday that a Commission of Investigation is to be established following a recommendation in the Report of the Scoping Inquiry.
The Scoping Inquiry organized a Survivor Engagement process where those who had experienced sexual abuse in Ireland's day and boarding schools run by religious orders were invited to come forward and share their views regarding an appropriate State response.
Participants reported experiences of sexual abuse in primary, post-primary, and special schools, both public and private, run by religious orders across Ireland.
The report of the Scoping Inquiry contains detailed accounts of sexual abuse, rape, and sexual assault.
The report - which can be read online here - is "deeply distressing to read," the Department of Education said on Tuesday.
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Meanwhile, Deirdre Kenny, the CEO of the Irish charity One in Four which provides counseling to survivors of childhood sexual abuse, told RTÉ News at One on Wednesday that the charity's helpline has seen a spike in calls since the publication of the report on Tuesday.
Kenny said that "as expected," some people are seeking to understand what happened at the school they attended, while others are coming forward for the first time to disclose their abuse. Family members who feel impacted have also been phoning the helpline.
Kenny went on to say that One in Four thinks it's an "important move" to include schools that weren't run by religious orders in the inquiry.
"There's no reason to say that the culture in other schools was any different," Kenny remarked. "It would isolate segments of our communities if we didn't include those schools."
Kenny estimated that the actual scope of abuse is far larger than what the report says.
"The name One in Four suggests that the figures that the scoping inquiry has released are just a fraction of the reality," she said.
Noting that abuse is "very underreported," Kenny added: "We expect that this could be one of the biggest commissions of inquiry that we've seen in this country."
Kenny went on to express her support for a redress scheme for the victims and further supported victims' calls for religious orders to contribute to redress.
"It's important to say that compensation or redress can't undo the harm that people have been caused," Kenny said, "but it can lead to recognition and also practical support for survivors."
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