The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse was told today by the Brothers of Charity order that there was not a full awareness of the issue of sexual abuse until 1995 when the Order received a complaint from the gardaí.
After a case involving two members went through the courts, more complaints followed, the commission was told.
At the time of going to the Redress Board the order, which ran institutions for people with learning disabilities, had 50 cases before it.
Brother John O'Shea told the inquiry the complaint brought to them in 1995 was a major shock.
He said the congregation had offered apologies and counselling to those affected and they encouraged those with complaints to contact the gardaí.
He said their approach was not to challenge or deny, or in any way make life difficult for those coming forward.
