Sexually abused woman appeals liability ruling

A WOMAN who was sexually assaulted 20 times by a national school principal at the age of eight has asked the Supreme Court, in a test case, to rule that the Minister for Education and the State are vicariously liable for the assaults.

More than 200 cases are awaiting the outcome of the action by Louise O’Keeffe which, the State says, could lead to it being held liable, not just for abuse in the past, but for “a whole host” of events occurring daily in more than 3,000 national schools.

The five-judge court yesterday began hearing the appeal by Ms O’Keeffe, aged 43, a separated mother of two, of Thoam, Dunmanway, Co Cork, against a High Court decision that the State is not vicariously liable for the assaults inflicted on her by Leo Hickey at Dunderrow National School, Co Cork, from January to September 1973.