The Taoiseach has said he is “so sorry” to victims of historical sexual abuse at schools run by religious orders, as he signalled a future State apology.
Simon Harris also did not rule out the compulsory purchase of assets held by the religious organisations to fund redress for what he described as “endemic” abuse.
Almost 2,400 allegations of historical sexual abuse were recorded by 308 schools run by religious orders across Ireland, a Government-ordered scoping inquiry revealed.
The 700-page report said the claims were made against 884 alleged abusers in day and boarding schools run by 42 religious orders.
The scoping inquiry said it had contacted 73 religious orders that ran or are still running schools in Ireland, with 42 having records of historical sexual abuse allegations.
In the immediate days after the publication of the report, gardai were contacted more than 160 times about similar allegations – some of which were the first time the individual had come forward.
Mr Harris said the report has “unleashed a national trauma”.
He said: “We have this deep, painful wound now – and I use wound rather than scar because it’s an open wound – it’s hurting today.
“We have people whose pasts were destroyed, and it has resulted in their futures being put on hold.
“And we have seen the most egregious – that’s even too weak a word – breach of trust, responsibility and authority. And it was endemic.”
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr Harris said there was a need for an “apology and atonement”.
Asked if there would be a formal State apology, the Taoiseach said: “I can’t see a scenario where there isn’t a State apology.
“And I want to say today as Taoiseach: I am so sorry and I feel such a deep sense of sorrow, hurt, anger and disgust – and we will get this right.”
Pressed on whether the State would compulsorily purchase assets held by religious orders who may say they do not have the cash for redress, Mr Harris said: “I rule nothing out, and we shouldn’t rule anything out.
“I don’t want to use adversarial language. I want people to finally, for once and for all, do the right thing.
“I want people who speak Christianity to practise it, but we can rule nothing out at this stage.
“So every time we see a report Ryan, Cloyne and Murphy, Mother and Baby, we're getting further insight into this cruelty that existed in our country, the cruelty that so many people must have known about. So I'm very clear in my mind. Of course, there's going to be a need for apology and atonement, but there's also a need to get the structure right here. And I'm really trying to dig deep.
"I'm working with colleagues on this. And Minister Norma Foley is doing an excellent job on this and working with the survivors. We have to get this structure right, because what we don't want is another process that goes on for years and years and years and years and years and doesn't give people answers. So our first priority is to get the process right.”
Mr Harris said he would not rule out the compulsory purchase by the State of the assets of religious orders in order to offer compensation to victims.
“We shouldn't rule anything out. I said yesterday and I say today I don't want to use adversarial language. I want people to finally, for once and for all, do the right thing. I want people who, as I say, speak Christianity to practice it, but we can rule nothing out at this stage.”
