State agency to examine ‘dropped’ school sex abuse claims

The State Claims Agency (SCA) is expected to examine dozens of school sex abuse claims that were withdrawn following a stark 2009 government warning that it would pursue its costs if the alleged victims lost their cases.

The review follows a promise by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn in the wake of the Louise O’Keeffe judgment that the Government’s response to child sex abuse cases in schools will be “fair and reasonable”.

The SCA has told the minister there are 44 cases pending in the legal system and he has asked the agency and the Attorney General to review them. In 2009 there were up to 135 cases but many were dropped following the government warning.