Ireland Sets Up Schools Sex-Abuse Inquiry After 2,000 Allegations

The Irish Government has announced a Commission of Investigation to examine historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools across the Republic of Ireland. Justice Michael MacGrath will chair the inquiry, which was confirmed on 8 July. The move follows a 2024 scoping report that documented more than 2,000 allegations involving roughly 300 schools, many run by religious orders. The new commission will scrutinise how abuse claims were handled in both religious and non-religious institutions and gather testimony through a dedicated survivor engagement forum. Ministers said preliminary work will begin in the coming months, with detailed terms of reference and calls for evidence to follow. The Government is also assessing a redress scheme that could cost “tens of millions” of euros and is expected to seek contributions from religious orders and other bodies deemed responsible. Advocacy group One in Four welcomed the broad remit, saying it reflects the thousands of lives affected and calling for transparent case-selection methods. The organisation, along with opposition parties, urged the Government to accelerate work on a parallel compensation scheme to ensure timely justice for survivors.