Bishop backs school board over abuse claims

THE Bishop of Ossory, Seamus Freeman, has given his full backing to the board of management in a south-eastern school which has been at the centre of a storm of sexual and physical abuse claims.

Two months ago, Bishop Freeman met with past pupils of the school and parents who have alleged in the past three years that their children were abused in the school. Bishop Freeman was told by the delegation that physical and emotional abuse was “systematic” in the school long after corporal punishment was banned in 1982.

Over the past three years, five children have made complaints they were sexually abused by a teacher. Three of the children claim the headmistress was involved in the sexual abuse.

In a letter to those who attended the meeting, Bishop Freeman confirmed that he had since met with the board of management “to discuss the concerns brought by parents”.

Bishop Freeman threw his support behind the board of management, who the parents accuse of having failed to complete a full investigation into the matter.

“I am satisfied, having taken into account the concerns raised by you and the detail in which these concerns were addressed by the board of management, that the board has dealt properly with all complaints.”

The board of management investigation said the complaints were without foundation, while HSE investigations described them as “inconclusive”.

The past pupils and parents reacted with fury last night to the contents of his letter.

“We want to know how have the allegations by the past pupils, which only came to the fore recently, been addressed by the board of management? Also, why hasn’t the bishop asked to meet other past pupils who are claiming abuse. He hasn’t asked to meet them or asked them to forward their complaints.”

Accusing the bishop of failing to address numerous “serious concerns” that they raised, the group said parents who initiated the board of management investigation were “never informed of any decisions made by the board of management on foot of their investigation”.

“According to the complaints procedure, parents should be informed within five days. This is was one of the main concerns of the delegation,” they said last night.

The bishop was told how former pupils “were beaten with sticks... were pulled and dragged by their hair and ears and had objects wedged between their upper and lower teeth to force their mouth open”.

One former pupil described being forced “to stand on one leg on a manhole” in the school playground for several hours.

The Irish Examiner has attempted to speak to the teachers and numerous members of the board of management, past and present. All have refused to comment on the case.