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The Jesuit Order has publicly identified 15 deceased members accused of child sexual abuse, following an independent review of their files.
Eight of these cases were known during the individuals’ lifetimes, while the remaining seven emerged after their deaths. All allegations have been reported to the Gardaí and statutory authorities.
This examination stems from a report published in 2021, which highlighted abuses by Fr. Joseph Marmion, and subsequent revelations about other Jesuits. An Independent Working Group, established by the Jesuits, reviewed the cases of 37 deceased members. The group, which included former Supreme Court judge John MacMenamin and experts in social work and psychotherapy, applied victim-centered standards to the files.
Jesuit Order Issue Apology
The Jesuit Order has issued a formal apology, acknowledging its past failures in handling abuse cases. It admitted that a focus on protecting the Order’s reputation led to delays in reporting, insufficient support for victims, and a failure to intervene in instances of misconduct. The Order also acknowledged a failure in tracking patterns of abusive behaviour due to inadequate record-keeping systems.
Conclusion
This acknowledgment underscores the ongoing need for comprehensive legal and institutional reform to ensure the safety of vulnerable individuals and accountability for historical abuses.
Related Articles
Final Report of Scoping Inquiry into Historical Religious Order Sexual Abuse Claims
Scoping Inquiry into Historical Religious Order Sexual Abuse Claims – Update
Further Information
Lavelle Partners act for several clients in relation to historic child sexual abuse cases.
Please contact Avril Scally, Partner and Head of Personal Injury & Medical Negligence, in the strictest confidence, if you would like to discuss a possible case.