Yet another Church sexual abuse scandal set to erupt

Up to 20 students to claim they were abused at a boarding school

HILDA HIGGINS,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Thursday, May 10, 2012, 8:19 AM

Updated Thursday, May 10, 2012, 8:19 AM

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Colaiste an Chroi Naofa in Carraig na bhFear

Photo by Google Images

The Irish Catholic church is set to be bracing itself for another child abuse scandal concerning the physical and sexual abuse of children at a Cork boarding school.

Formerly run by the Order of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (OMSH), almost 20 past pupils at Colaiste an Chroi Naofa in Carraig na bhFear have lodged abuse complaints. The first complaint was received last August when police were approached by a former boarder at the secondary school.

In response, both the Irish police and the Health Service Executive have launched an investigation.

In 1950 the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart purchased the site in Carraig na bhFear. The school served originally as a seminary and was a boarding school for boys.

The Irish Independent reports that three elderly men were arrested in relation to the alleged events which occurred in the 1970s and 1980s. The men were later released without charge.

The newspaper reports that a file is to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) within the coming two months.

The National Board for the Safeguarding of Children (NBSC) also launched an investigation into child protection practices within the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart late last year. The findings will not be released until criminal investigations have concluded.

Nster.com

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jpf | May 20, 2012, 06:51 PM EDT

Im so glad I left the Catholic church! it is the most corrupt institution on the planet filled with the most hypocritical men on the planet. they keep women from using birth control and yet they abuse children. i guess they are only against abortion because that means less children to abuse. there is a special place in hell for cathlioc priests and the bishops who cover this up. ANY protestant church is better than the best Catholic church.

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IrelandNorth | May 12, 2012, 08:39 AM EDT

Tip of the proverbial iceberg, I suspect! I experienced an attempted clerical child sexual abuse by a De La Salle brother back in 1972, which I never even reported. There was also a very dodgy caretaker in my previous Augustinian boarding school in Wexford, which again wasn't dealt with.

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misneac | May 10, 2012, 01:55 PM EDT

It is a great relief that the media have been able to establish that the only sexual abuse of children in Ireland over the past 100 years has been by Catholic priests and nuns . At least the very generous financial settlements will be confined to the Catholic Church !

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Murph46 | May 10, 2012, 01:50 PM EDT

12:56 post not from me.Don't live in Ireland (coming back soon)

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Collette2 | May 10, 2012, 01:29 PM EDT

Murph yes, and nothings changed worldwide, it's only when you see rats leaving the provbial ship that will bring a new day.

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Murph46 | May 10, 2012, 01:13 PM EDT

Time for church to exit-Maybe Henry VIII had it right!

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CitizenWhy | May 10, 2012, 12:55 PM EDT

Tragic. Horrible for victims. Also very sad. There are still good parish priests in Ireland, the priest in my parents' village one of them. What was wrong with those skulking bishops? Did they live only to please Rome?

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