The report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse was published on 20 May 2009. It found that children lived in “a climate of fear” in residential institutions run by religious congregations and that “sexual abuse was endemic in boys’ institutions”.

Cases of sexual abuse were hidden by the congregations that ran the institutions and offenders were transferred to other locations where they were free to abuse again, the report says. There were also many reports of injuries, including broken bones, lacerations and bruising.

The commission, which was chaired by Mr Justice Seán Ryan, heard from more than 500 witnesses who said they had been sexually abused. Eight chapters in the report are devoted to the Christian Brothers, the largest provider of residential care for boys in the state. More allegations were made against the Christian Brothers than all other male orders combined.

The report sharply criticises the Department of Education for failing to carry out proper inspections.

“The deferential and submissive attitude of the Department of Education towards the congregations compromised its ability to carry out its statutory duty of inspection,” the report says.

The Commission on Child Abuse was set up in 1999. It investigated industrial schools, reformatories, orphanages, institutions for children with disabilities and ordinary day schools. It heard evidence covering the period from 1914 to the present but the bulk of its work addressed the period from the early 1930s to the early 1970s.

More than 1,700 men and women gave evidence of the abuse they suffered as children in institutions, with over half reporting sexual abuse. Accounts of abuse given in relation to 216 institutions are detailed in the report, which runs to nearly 3,000 pages. More than 800 priests, brothers, nuns and lay people were implicated.

Reacting to the report, Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe said “the wrongs of the past” could not be undone.

“However, as a responsible and caring society, we must fully face up to the fact that wrong was done and we must learn from the mistakes of the past.”

Mr O’Keeffe extended his “sincere and profound sympathy” to those who were abused.

Principals express frustration at HSE's inadequate response
During the week that the Report was published, the Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN) again highlighted principals' frustration at the lack of adequate response from the HSE locally when they report their concerns about children at risk.

Outlining the findings of a recent IPPN survey, Assistant Director Virginia O’Mahony said that "principals are encountering increased incidence of emotional and behavioural disturbance, depression and neglect among primary school children".

In the survey, principals identified neglect as the most common form of abuse experienced by children.

Representing their views to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Barry Andrews, IPPN stressed the importance of developing a positive mental health programme for primary schools and increasing the time allocation for Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE), which currently gets 30 minutes per week.

IPPN told Minister Andrews that further training in Child Protection must be provided for principals and deputy principals to enable them to fulfil their role of Designated Liaison Person, a role which is now mandatory in all schools and which obliges them to report suspicions of child abuse to the Gardaí and the HSE.

Statements from Christian Brothers
On the day the Ryan Report was published, the following statement was issued by the Christian Brothers:
 
“The Christian Brothers in Ireland today, 20th May 2009, received a copy of the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. Given the very comprehensive nature of the Report, the Christian Brothers will respond more fully after an initial examination of its findings and recommendations.

“In advance, the Christian Brothers apologise openly and unreservedly to all those who have been hurt either directly or indirectly as a result of the deplorable actions of some Brothers, or by the inaction or inappropriate action of the Congregation as a whole.

“We are deeply sorry for the hurt caused. We are ashamed and saddened that many who complained of abuse were not listened to. We acknowledge and regret that our responses to physical and sexual abuse failed to consider the long term psychological effects on children.

“As we have come to better understand the impact of such abuse, our goal and best endeavour has been to promote healing for complainants. We appreciate that no healing is possible without an acknowledgement of our responsibility as a Congregation for what has happened. 

“Our commitment is to ensure that we learn from the awful mistakes of the past, from the findings and recommendations of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, and from best practice in the area of child protection as it continues to evolve. 

“Our hope and our commitment are that those responsible for the care and education of children will accord all children the dignity that is their right.”

A further statement was issued by the Christian Brothers on May 26:

“The Christian Brothers accept, with shame, the findings of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse.  The congregation is deeply sorry for the hurt we have caused - not just for the mistakes of the past, but for the inadequacy of our responses over recent years. As a congregation we recognise and accept our culpability along with our moral obligation to former residents, to present and future generations of children and to society as a whole. 

“Our breach of trust has tarnished the name of Edmund Rice and the principles for which he stood. We have extended the suffering of former residents who were either not listened to or not believed.  As a congregation we want to make amends and to beg forgiveness.  Our first step in doing so will be to listen with a fresh perspective to former residents, to their families and to representative groups – a process which will commence immediately.

“In addition, the Brothers, in consultation with former residents and other stakeholders, including Government, will review how our resources can best be applied in reparation for abuses of the past and as an investment in child education and welfare for present and future generations.  This review process will extend to all of our resources above and beyond such accommodation and means necessary to maintain the members of our Congregation and to support selected commitments at home and overseas. 

“The extent of dramatic change anticipated by the Christian Brothers will require some little time to consider. The congregation does not want to compromise services currently provided or supported by us.  The Christian Brothers respectfully ask for the space and time to properly consider these matters.  We would expect to provide further updates in this regard within a six week period.

“In addition, the Brothers have cause for reflection on many of the deeper issues emanating from the Report, such as how our congregation, established  to cherish and protect children, so lost its way and failed in its most basic duty of care to children.  This process will involve retracing our steps right back to Br Edmund Ignatius Rice while looking at the needs of society today.  We are committed to seeing this through, looking at all possible options open to us.”
(Sources: Irish Times and others)