A group representing survivors of sexual abuse in schools run by the Spiritan order have given a "cautious welcome" to media reports that the Government may establish a statutory inquiry into sexual abuse in schools run by religious orders.
A Government-scoping report is due to be published in September and there has been speculation that the establishment of a statutory inquiry may also be announced at that time.
Restore Together, which says it has supported more than 300 victims/survivors of sexual abuse suffered at Spiritan schools, said that while it would welcome the establishment of a statutory inquiry in principle, it would only do so if the inquiry was structured to ensure that there is no further delay in victims/ survivors getting immediate access to the justice they urgently need.
The group said survivors had carried the burden of abuse for decades and continued to suffer on a daily basis.
It said every delay added to their suffering and impeded their recovery.
In a statement it said: "It is already fully accepted by the Spiritan and other religious orders that widespread abuse took place over a long-time frame affecting hundreds and potentially thousands of children. Any Restorative Justice or similar support programmes already in operation or under negotiation with the various religious congregations must not be set back or delayed in any way by the establishment by the Government of a statutory inquiry."
Restore Together has written to Minister for Education Norma Foley seeking an urgent meeting with her to discuss the terms of reference of any inquiry currently being drafted.
"Inquiries and tribunals can take many years and far too long before bringing justice and closure for those involved. Restore Together's strong belief is that any statutory inquiry must be structured to facilitate the concurrent operation of parallel strands aimed at providing healing to victim/ survivors.
"This would mean that each person’s individual circumstances could be swiftly addressed under one strand without having to wait for the conclusions and findings of the strand dealing with examining wider systemic issues of how and why such abuse took place and was concealed", it said.
Pointing to what it said were positive steps taken by some religious orders, including commitments made to redress schemes for those who have suffered, Restore Together said all this progress had taken years to achieve "and must not be displaced or delayed by any initiative by the government".
Saying that justice delayed is justice denied the group said; "In the interests of the health and wellbeing of the victims/ survivors it is vital that these programmes are not jeopardised but instead are supported so they can progress to a satisfactory conclusion as soon as possible"
Earlier this week, the Minister for Education said she had received the report of the Scoping Inquiry into Historical Sexual Abuse in Schools run by religious orders from the independent lead, Senior Counsel Mary O'Toole.
Describing the work as "substantial" the department of education said it ran to 700 pages, spanning 26 chapters over five volumes.
It said that following consultation with colleagues in Government, and further engagement with the office of the Attorney General the minister intended to publish the report in the Autumn.
