Survivors of alleged historical sexual abuse in religious-run schools in Ireland told an inquiry how their childhoods were destroyed when they were raped or assaulted.
Minister for Education Norma Foley said the survivors who had told their stories to the scoping inquiry report into allegations of historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders had shown “extraordinary courage”.
The Government has announced that a Commission of Investigation is to be established to examine the abuse allegations.
Ms Foley said the report was a “harrowing document” which contains participants’ descriptions of “appalling sexual abuse and violence”.
She added: “These include abuse being perpetrated in front of other children.”
The report includes the accounts of multiple survivors who chose to give details in their interviews about what they experienced as children in school.
It details allegations of sexual abuse in classrooms where other children were present as well as in sleeping quarters, swimming pools and abuse involving drugs, physical restraint and violence.
The accounts given include all school-going ages, from junior infants to sixth year in secondary school.
One person told the inquiry: “He’d get through as many of us as he could at a time. He abused us in front of each other.”
In one case, the report said: “The participant described that the abuse occurred in the classroom, in front of other students.
“He recalled how he was pinned down by his teacher, with others around.”
Another survivor told the inquiry: “He would put his left hand up my pants and fondle my genitalia, and I think his right hand was up inside his gown and I think he was masturbating.”
Some reported that regular and systematic abuse took place in their classroom.
One said: “It was certainly, maybe, a couple of times a week.
“It was in the middle of a classroom of fellow children.”
Another said: “Not always me, but someone was abused every day.
“Everyone was abused two to three times a year.”
Some survivors reported that they were taken to offices or residential rooms on pretexts such as for discussions, sex education, confession or medical examinations where, on some occasions, they would be shown sex education material or pornography.
Some reported that confession was used to manipulate and molest them and to elicit information.
The report stated: “A small number of participants from a handful of schools reported that they were drugged into immobility or unconsciousness prior to sexual abuse or had heard that this had happened to others.”
One survivor told the inquiry: “When you’re in it you don’t realise that it’s not normal.
“You don’t realise that your norm is not the norm.”
The report stated: “Participants described several forms of abuse, including groping, digital penetration, oral, anal and vaginal rape.
“Some participants reported incidences of multiple children being sexually abused at the same time.
“In many cases participants reported that they had experienced ongoing sexual abuse of different forms. Some reported being sexually abused by more than one person.”
The report goes on to record the impact on the school life on many of the victims.
One said: “My childhood ended as fast as it began.
“The physical, but emotional, mental pain of the first rape is as real today as then. I withdrew into myself, I became emotionally empty.
“I was screaming on the inside with anger and fear, but no one could hear or see me.”
Another said: “You believe that there’s something wrong with you, something dirty about you.”
The report said: “The effect of sexual abuse on childhood mental health was described by participants as devastating.
“Participants described how, as children, they experienced stress, anxiety, depression and PTSD, with some relating how they were prescribed medication or hospitalised because of these conditions at very young ages.”
It added: “In some instances, as children or teenagers, participants attempted suicide.
“Some also spoke of schoolmates whom they believed to have died by suicide as teenagers or young adults, and whom participants believe were sexually abused.”
The report goes on to detail the impact on survivors of child sexual assault in adulthood.
One survivor said: “My feeling now is sadness.
“What would my life have been if these things didn’t happen to me as a child or a young adult?”
The report stated: “A minority of participants said that they had left Ireland specifically to get away from memories of sexual abuse.
“They described how the association between Ireland and the abuse meant that they lost their chance to live in the country they had grown up in.”
A number of survivors of abuse spoke about the challenge of getting through the day.
One said: “I can’t wait till I die, I’m not suicidal, but I can’t wait till this is over.”
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help.
