Fourteen Tipperary schools named in scoping inquiry report into historical sexual abuse

Fourteen Tipperary schools have been named in a scoping inquiry into sexual abuse in schools run by religious orders. 

The report was published this week and lists 2,395 allegations in 308 schools nationally. 

Ninety-seven of those were in Tipperary and relate to up to 46 alleged abusers. 

The following Tipperary schools are named in the report under records provided by religious orders. 

• Rockwell College Cashel (post-primary) (60 allegations/ 18 alleged abusers)
• CBS St Mary's Clonmel (4 allegations/ 4 alleged abusers)
• CBS Nenagh (primary) (10 allegations/ 6 alleged abusers)
• Thurles CBS (primary)  ( 3 allegations / 3 alleged abusers)
• Thurles CBS (secondary) (4 allegations/ 2 alleged abusers)
• CBS Carrick-on-Suir (primary) (3 allegations/ 3 alleged abusers)
• CBS Carrick-on-Suir Secondary (1 allegation/ 1 alleged abuser)
• CBS Tipperary Town (primary) (3 allegations/ 1 alleged abusers)
• CBS St Peters and St Paul's CBS Clonmel Junior School (2 allegations /2 alleged abusers)
• Mount St Joseph's Cistercian College Roscrea (Post-primary) (2 allegations/2 alleged abusers)
• Presentation Secondary School Ballingarry (2 allegations/2 alleged abusers)
• Scoil Mhuire na nAingeal (1 allegation/ 1 alleged abuser)
• Templemore CBS Secondary (1 allegation/ 1 alleged abuser)

St Joseph’s Primary School in Tipperary Town was named under submissions from the Survivor Engagement Questionnaire with one allegation. 

Following the publishing of the report this week, Minister for Education Norma Foley announced she is to set up a Commission of Investigation to examine allegations made during the scoping inquiry.

“I am announcing today that the Government has accepted the principal recommendation of the report of the scoping inquiry, which is for the establishment of a Commission of Investigation. Historical sexual abuse is a profoundly serious matter and needs to be examined in detail. 

“One of the most compelling aspects of the report is that older participants provided devastating accounts of how sexual abuse in childhood has affected their entire lives, from their schooldays through adolescence, early adulthood through to later years, said Minister Foley. 

Minister Foley commissioned the scoping inquiry in response to a 2022 RTE Radio 1 documentary, On One: Blackrock Boys. 

The inquiry team was established in March last year to inform the Government’s response.

An Garda Síochána is appealing to anyone who wishes to report a crime relating to the report to do so. 

Those who wish to make a complaint can do so by emailing [email protected], phoning the confidential Garda Child Sexual Abuse Reporting Line on 1800 555 222 or by calling your local garda station. 

In a statement on Tuesday, the gardaí said: 

“An Garda Síochána is inviting 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.

“An Garda Síochána is fully aware of the profound impact on the lives of those who were subject to such abuse, many of whom who 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.

“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.”