Labour introduces bill to ensure religious orders pay redress to sexual abuse victims

The Labour Party introduced a new bill yesterday which aims to ensure that religious orders contribute to redress schemes "addressing the systematic child abuse" reported in Ireland's educational institutions.

Earlier this month, a scoping inquiry revealed almost 2,400 allegations of sexual abuse of children in schools run by religious orders.

According to the findings of senior counsel Mary O'Toole, there were 822 alleged abusers in schools run by 42 religious orders across the country. The allegations extended across 308 schools.

In a letter to An Taoiseach Simon Harris, Labour Leader Ivana Bacik has called for the Government to "ensure that religious orders fully contribute to any redress scheme addressing the systemic child abuse uncovered" across educational institutions in Ireland.

Bacik wrote that Ireland owes "an enormous debt of gratitude" to victims and survivors who have come forward with their trauma, but that they are "often retraumatised by flawed redress processes or dragged through lengthy legal proceedings, due to the reluctance of religious orders to fully engage in delivering justice."

Labour's proposed bill therefore aims to "address that imbalance by facilitating civil proceedings" against religious orders and unincorporated bodies to recover "damages from the ‘associated’ trusts of these bodies."

"The slow pace of action, the avoidance of responsibility, and the legal obfuscations seen so far indicate the need for a stronger legislative framework. The Labour Party’s Bill is essential for creating that pathway to justice. Religious orders cannot be allowed to delay and avoid accountability any longer."