Friday, 11th November 2022
Over the last week we have responded as much as we can to queries from the media regarding abuse by Spiritans or their employees.
It has been, and is, the policy of the Congregation to cooperate fully with the statutory authorities – Gardaí and Tusla (Child & Family Agency). Now that it has been announced that the gardaí are carrying out an investigation, we will not comment on any particular accused person or victim/survivor.
As leader of the Spiritans in Ireland, I apologise sincerely to those who have been so grievously hurt, and assure victims/survivors that our congregation is doing all in its power to help those who have been harmed.
Spiritan schools have robust safeguarding policies and procedures in place for the protection of their current and future pupils. The Department of Education regularly carries out inspections of schools to ensure compliance with those policies.
In collaboration with a representative group of survivors, for the last year and a half we have been working on a new, additional method of reaching out to victims/survivors which we plan to launch together in the near future.
Martin Kelly C.S.Sp.
