Shocking Scale of Abuse Uncovered in Irish Church-Run Schools

An Irish state inquiry has uncovered a disturbing level of sexual abuse within church-run schools, primarily managed by the Catholic Church, spanning almost a century. A preliminary report released on Tuesday revealed 2,395 allegations of sexual abuse, implicating 884 alleged perpetrators across more than 300 schools from 1927 to 2013.

Most of the reported incidents occurred between the 1960s and 1990s. Education Minister Norma Foley expressed deep concern over the findings, stating, “The level of abuse is shocking. It is truly shocking, and so is the number of alleged abusers.”

The report, known as a “scoping inquiry,” was compiled from records held by religious institutions and testimonies from survivors. This inquiry is part of an ongoing effort by the Irish government to address historic abuse cases involving clergy and members of religious orders.

The next step will be a full commission of investigation, which is expected to uncover even more cases of abuse. The report is set to be published after being shared with victims, marking another chapter in Ireland's painful reckoning with decades of mistreatment in religious institutions.

This is the latest in a series of inquiries aimed at uncovering the full extent of abuse within the country’s Catholic Church-run institutions.