The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse has been told that there were two realities at St Josephs Industrial School in Kilkenny, one caring and nurturing, the other dark and hidden.
Sr Una O'Neill, Superior General of the Sisters of Charity was giving evidence at a public session of the Commission. The school was run by the Sisters until 1999.
St Josephs was opened in the 1870s to care for homeless girls, and took in boys as well from the 1960s.
Giving evidence at a public sitting of the abuse commission today - Sr O'Neill said that many inspectors who had visited the school over the years had found it to be well run, warm and secure.
One inspection carried out in 1972 described it as a wonderful home for children in care.
However in recent years, evidence of abuse at the school has also emerged. On one occasion in 1954, nine girls complained that a painter employed at the school had sexually interfered with them.
Sr O'Neill told the inquiry that a Department of Education inspector, Dr Anna McCabe, held a meeting with the school's manager, a Department official, the Superior General of the order and the then parish priest.
The inquiry was told that the parish priest said that although the man deserved penal servitude, he requested that no action be taken because the court case would bring the convent into disrepute, would damage the girls and leave an indelible mark on four of them who would have to give evidence.
He said instead that he would take the painter and 'put the fear of God' into him.
It was also decided not to tell the then Bishop, who was in frail health.
Other allegations of abuse at the school emerged in later years, leading to prosecutions in the case of two lay male child care workers.
Sr O'Neill told the inquiry today that St Josephs was like a family, with two realities, one dark, secret and hidden, the other beautiful, caring and nurturing.
She said she could not reconcile the two realities, other than to say that there was good and there was evil.
Former residents of the school will begin giving evidence in private tomorrow.
