Gardaí investigating allegations of historic sex abuse at Blackrock College and other schools run by the Spiritan congregation have submitted files relating to 13 victims to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
More than 130 people have reported incidents of child sexual abuse to gardaí investigating such allegations at schools such as Blackrock College and its feeder school Willow Park in south Dublin.
Gardaí say investigations in relation to a significant number of victims have been completed as it has been established that the alleged suspects are deceased.
However, the DPP will now decide on whether to bring charges in relation to the alleged abuse of 13 victims at Spirtian-run schools. It is not clear how many alleged suspects are involved.
"The Sexual Crime Management Unit at the Garda National Protective Services Bureau is co-ordinating the garda response into recent allegations made in respect of members and former members of the Spiritan Order (formerly Holy Ghost Fathers) based at a number of educational establishments," a garda spokesperson said.
"An Garda Síochána received over 130 contacts either through the Sexual Crime Management Unit Office at the Garda National Protective Services Bureau or at local Garda Stations across the country, primarily from victims but also included contacts from persons who witnessed abuse and from persons on behalf of victims.
"An assessment was carried out in respect of each individual contact, and each contact advised as to what, if any, action could be taken by An Garda Síochána.
"Files in respect of 13 victims have been submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions."
The allegations first emerged last November when brothers David and Mark Ryan shared their stories of the repeated sexual abuse they received while pupils at the prestigious Blackrock College.
Within a week of sharing their stories on RTÉ Radio's Doc on One, 'Blackrock Boys’, 233 men joined the Ryan brothers in making allegations of historic abuse against members of the Spiritans as well as other religious congregations.
A scoping inquiry is due to report to Government later this year on what form of inquiry should be established to investigate historic abuse in schools.
Mark Ryan died earlier this month, aged 62.
