Report outlines historic sex abuse allegations at schools in Athlone and Moate

An inquiry into sexual abuse in schools has outlined allegations of abuse at two schools in Athlone, and one in Moate, which were run by religious orders.

The shocking details were contained in the scoping inquiry into historical sexual abuse in schools run by religious orders, which was published by the Government on Tuesday, September 3.

The reported incidents in South Westmeath included eleven allegations of abuse, involving three alleged abusers, at the Carmelite College, run by the Carmelite Fathers, in Moate.

In Athlone, the Marist Brothers' boys national school, Scoil Mhuire Buachailli, was the site of five abuse allegations against one alleged abuser.

In addition, there was one abuse allegation against one alleged abuser at the Marist Brothers' boarding school in Athlone, situated at Our Lady's Hermitage on the Retreat Road.

The report also said there had been 44 allegations of abuse, by 33 alleged abusers, in schools operated by the congregation of the Sisters of Mercy, but a breakdown of the individual Sisters of Mercy schools in question was not listed.

There were also a number of allegations relating to schools run by religious orders in West Offaly.

The Offaly school which was the subject of the largest number of allegations in the report was St Anthony's College in Clara, run by the Franciscan brothers. The school was the site of eleven abuse allegations involving seven alleged abusers.

In Ferbane, Scoil Mhuire Primary School, operated by the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny, was the site of three allegations against three alleged abusers.

The main source of the report's information on the sexual abuse allegations was data provided by the religious orders and schools themselves.

In addition, some 205 people, the overwhelming majority of whom were men, came forward to complete questionnaires about their experiences in day and boarding schools run by religious orders.

The details provided by these survivors included harrowing accounts of abuse which they were subjected to, some of which took place in the presence of other children.

The report showed that the Carmelite College in Moate had been named by two of the participants who came forward to complete questionnaires as part of the inquiry process.

When publishing the report, Education Minister Norma Foley also announced the setting up of a Commission of Investigation into the matters raised.

"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 and right through to later years," said the Minister.

"I am pleased to note that the report states that current child protection measures in schools are robust and effective and I am conscious that the safety of children today is a matter of paramount concern to survivors and all of society."

In total, the report cited 2,395 allegations of sexual abuse in respect of 308 schools, as recorded by the religious orders which ran those schools. The allegations related to the actions of 884 separate alleged abusers.

Notwithstanding this shockingly high prevalence of sexual abuse against children, the report stated that "the total number of allegations likely exceeds that figure, given the level of underreporting of childhood sexual abuse noted in the Central Statistics Office Sexual Violence Survey".

In a statement last week, the Association of Leaders of Missionaries & Religious of Ireland (AMRI), said it would carefully examine the recommendations of the inquiry and respond accordingly.

The association said it was "deeply sorry" that victims and survivors who participated in a scoping inquiry had experienced abuse in religious-run schools.

"We recognise that we can never know the depth of the pain and suffering survivors have endured and continue to endure," it added.

An Garda Síochána also issued a statement last week in which it appealed to anyone who wished to report a crime relating to historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders to get in touch.

It said a report could be made a local Garda station, by emailing GNPSB_SCMU@garda.ie or by phoning the free and confidential Garda Child Sexual Abuse Reporting Line on 1800 555 222.