Former archbishop fears numbers abused in schools 'underestimated and probably higher'

The former Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin said the sexual abuse 'takes away the entire self-esteem of a child. The abuser is actually saying to a child, ‘I could do anything I like with you, you are worthless’. And that's the thing that drags right throughout their life.' File picture

The former Archbishop of Dublin fears that the number of people who were abused by teachers and priests in Irish schools may have been underestimated.

A total of 2,395 allegations were made against 884 teachers, priests, and others in 308 schools across Ireland in the Government's long-awaited report into sexual abuse at religious-run boarding and day-schools, published earlier this week.