The Jesuit Order in Ireland has confirmed that it has received 93 complaints of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse against former teacher and priest Joseph Marmion.

The Jesuits named Marmion as an abuser in March 2021 and asked his victims to engage with the Order, establishing a restorative justice program. 

The Society of Jesuits published a narrative report on February 8 which states: "Up to September 2023, 93 complaints of child sexual abuse, physical and emotional abuse had been received against Fr Marmion."

Of those 93 complaints, 45 related to child sex abuse, with 65 of the complaints related to his time at Belvedere College in Dublin during the 1970s. 

A total of 14 complaints were related to his time at Crescent College in Co Limerick, while a further 14 complaints were related to his time at Clongowes Wood in Co Kildare. 

Marmion taught at Belvedere College for nine years between 1969 and 1978, with 35 of the 65 complaints from the school related to child sex abuse. The remaining 30 complaints from Belvedere College were related to emotional and physical abuse. 

The report published on Thursday presents "the history of Fr Marmion’s appalling abuse and the decisions made down through the decades to put the protection of the reputation of the Society, its schools and Fr Marmion ahead of the welfare of boys and ahead of the law."

In the report, former students outline an atmosphere of turmoil and terror created by Marmion's large physical presence. 

One former student described Marmion as an "out and out bully" and a "complete psychopath, according to the report, while others said they never knew how he would behave in the classroom at any given time. 

The report says young boys suffered pain, fear, and intimidation at the hands of Marmion and carried those experiences throughout their lives, often with "deplorable consequences."

"Many have permanent scars. Some have carried them to the grave," the Jesuits stated in the report. 

The Jesuits said it does not typically publish the identity of Jesuits subject to a complaint but said the naming of Marmion in March 2021 was an "appropriate and necessary step."

The report additionally states that a total of 113 complaints of child sex abuse were lodged against 43 other Jesuits between 1945 and September 2023, making a total of 44 including Marmion. 

Of those 44 Jesuits, 22 had multiple complaints lodged against them, while 22 had one complaint lodged against them. 

"All relevant information regarding these complaints has been reported to An Garda Síochána and Tusla for the purposes of their respective statutory functions," the report stated. 

Furthermore, the Jesuit report stated that there was a complaint of sexual abuse filed against Fr. Paul Andrews, who had been a rector of Belvedere for a time. 

Andrews, who has since died, reportedly had knowledge of the allegations against Marmion but did not share the information with his superiors. 

The report stated that Andrews, along with two other unnamed priests, were aware of the complaints against Marmion but decided that it was important to safeguard the Society's reputation and avoid a public scandal. 

The complaint against Andrews is alleged to have taken place in a non-school setting in 1985. 

The Jesuits reported the matter to An Garda Síochána in 1995, but the Director of Public Prosecutions decided in 1997 that there would be no prosecution. 

Andrews was later allowed to resume his ministry and returned to working with children following that decision. 

Fr Shane Daly, Provincial of the Jesuits, thanked past pupils for engaging in the report and said it was important to hold the Jesuits to account for its failures regarding students who were abused. 

Speaking with RTÉ News on Thursday, Fr Daly said there is "no disputing" that there was a cover-up in the late 70s regarding the abuse.