Experts in the area of child protection have said Ireland has a responsibility to ensure its dark history of clerical abuse never happens again.
It’s after more allegations of child sexual abuse in schools run by the Spiritan Order have come to light.
The order says it expects more survivors to come forward, after it disclosed 233 men have alleged they were abused.
There were allegations in nine schools run by the the order including Blackrock College, Willow Park, St.Mary’s, St.Michael’s and Templeogue College all in Dublin
and Rockwell College in County Tipperary.
In Blackrock 57 people alone have claimed to have been abused.
Maeve Lewis from ‘One in Four‘ says the Spiritan – or Holy Ghost Order now has an obligation to provide significant support services for the men abused by the priests.
”The efforts from the Spiritans to encourage other survivors to come forward…. that is to be commended because if its been somebody that’s been sexually abused, it’s likely the impact of that abuse is going to continue right throughout their lifetime so that people desperately need access to support services.”
Child protection expert and author Shane Dunphy says the country has a responsibility to ensure this never happens again.
”We’ve a dark history of child protection in Ireland. Responsibility for child protection was largely handed over to the church. That church was abused hideously. We all have a responsibility to make sure that this never happens again.”
Allegations were made against 77 priests in the Spiritan order.
If you’ve been affected by this you can contact Samaritans on 116 123 or the National Rape Crisis Centre Helpline on 18 hundred 77 88 88.
