The review of child protection at 43 religious congregations found there has been a “significant improvement in all aspects of child safeguarding: reporting, supporting, responding, prevention and in managing the respondent.” It also found that, overall, there is strong leadership and commitment to child safeguarding.
But familiar patterns also emerge. There were a pronounced number of child sexual abuse allegations against six of the eight male congregations reviewed, compared to none where the majority of female congregations were concerned.
There was also the marked tardiness – or complete failure – of some male congregations involved in education to inform civil authorities of allegations. Here the Jesuits were among the main offenders. No Jesuit has been convicted in the courts.
Among Ireland’s more prominent Jesuit schools are Belvedere and Gonzaga in Dublin; Clongowes Wood in Kildare; Coláiste Iognaid in Galway, and the Crescent in Limerick.
The Cistercians run the Mount St Joseph school at Roscrea Co Tipperary, and abbeys at Mount Melleray in Co Waterford; Mellifont in Co Louth; Portglenone in Co Antrim and Moone in Kildare.
Although 48 allegations against 21 Cistercians were reported to the gardaí, 15 were not reported to health authorities. Two were convicted in the courts.
The Salesians run colleges in Celbridge, Co Kildare; Pallaskenry, Co Limerick; and at Ballinakill, Co Laois. They also have a student residence for young men at the University of Limerick. They faced 11 allegations against nine members (one faced an allegation of physical abuse), but five were not reported to gardaí and seven were not reported to health authorities. None was convicted.
The Carmelites run Terenure College in Dublin as well as Whitefriar Street and Knocklyon parishes and Ballyhale parish in Kilkenny. All 17 allegations against 11 members were reported to gardaí and health authorities. None was convicted.
The Capuchins run Rochestown College in Cork and includes children among clients at Church Street in Dublin which serves food daily. School retreats take place at their friary in Creeslough, Co Donegal, and Feis Maitiu in Cork takes place annually in its premises there. All 72 allegations made against 21 of its members were reported to gardaí and health authorities. Two were convicted in the courts.
Where the nuns were concerned, allegations were usually of physical/emotional abuse with the Sisters of Charity facing most allegations, at 14. Just four of these relate to nuns, all deceased, with nine relating to lay employees.