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.