Abuse in schools had a “destructive impact” on the lives of survivors – Homepage

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

A study published on Tuesday found that people who were sexually abused at school suffered “horrific” long-term effects on their relationships, health and careers.

The government's comprehensive investigation found 2,400 allegations of child sexual abuse at 308 schools run by 42 religious orders.

Of the 884 abusers, around half are dead, the report says.

In addition, a high number of allegations at 17 special schools was pointed out: 590 allegations in connection with 190 alleged abusers.

The comprehensive investigation largely covers allegations from the 1950s to the 1980s and primarily concerns men aged 50, 60 and 70.

Education Minister Norma Foley said that because of their advanced age, the survivors were able to describe in detail the impact the abuse had on them and how it led to a “premature end to their childhood”.

The report shows how abuse at school undermined survivors' confidence and left them feeling that, because of the power of the Catholic Church, there was no one they could tell – not even their parents.

“It has damaged survivors’ relationships with their families and even their own children,” Ms Foley said.

“Some survivors were unable to visit their parents' graves because their abuser was buried nearby in the same cemetery. Some survivors said they left Ireland specifically to escape the memories of the sexual abuse.”

Survivors reported that the abuse they suffered caused mental health problems as adults, such as anxiety or depression, addiction problems, and damage to their sense of community.

One of the respondents said: “It happened in the '60s, but since then it really has happened every day. You live with it every day. I try to carry on, but it slaps me in the face.”

Some survivors reported that they were taken to offices or residential rooms under false pretenses, such as for interviews, sex education, confession or medical examinations, where in some cases they were shown educational materials or pornography.

Some said confessions were used to manipulate and harass them and to extract information.

The report states: “A small number of participants from a handful of schools reported being immobilized or unconscious by drugs before being sexually abused, or had heard that this had happened to others.”

One survivor told the investigation: “When you’re in the middle of it, you don’t realize it’s not normal.

“You don’t realize that your norm is not the norm.”

The report states: “Participants described various forms of abuse, including groping, digital penetration, and oral, anal, and vaginal rape.

“Some participants reported cases in which several children were sexually abused at the same time.

“In many cases, participants reported experiencing ongoing sexual abuse in various forms. Some reported being sexually abused by more than one person.”

The report also describes the impact on the daily school life of many victims.

One said: “My childhood ended as quickly as it began.

“The physical, but also emotional and psychological pain of the first rape is just as real today as it was then. I withdrew into myself, I was emotionally empty.

“Inside I screamed with anger and fear, but no one could hear or see me.”

Another said: “You think there is something wrong with you, something dirty about you.”

The report states: “Participants described the impact of sexual abuse on children’s mental health as devastating.”

“Participants described suffering from stress, anxiety, depression and PTSD as children. Some reported being prescribed medication or hospitalized for these conditions at a very young age.”

It continues: “In some cases, participants attempted suicide as children or teenagers.

“Some also spoke of schoolmates who they believed had committed suicide as teenagers or young adults and who participants believed had been sexually abused.”

The report also details the impact of child sexual abuse on adult survivors.

One survivor said: “I feel sadness now.

“How would my life have been if these things had not happened to me as a child or young adult?”

The report states: “A minority of participants reported that they left Ireland specifically to escape memories of sexual abuse.

“They described how the connection between Ireland and the abuse led to them losing their chance to live in the country where they grew up.”

Several victims of abuse spoke about how difficult it was to get through the day.

One said: “I can't wait to die. I'm not suicidal, but I can't wait for this to be over.”

Many described failed romantic relationships or the breakdown of their marriages, and some said they had chosen not to have children because of the sexual abuse.

“I could never have had children because of this. I realized at a very young age that I could never live with the thought of something like this happening to one of my children. I would be in fear and terror every day of the week,” one person said.

Survivors who had children said the abuse affected their parenting, with some describing her constant worry and overprotectiveness.

Some spoke of lost career opportunities and others said they had chosen to become self-employed because of difficulties with authority figures.

“I have attributed his face to every authority figure in my life,” one person said in a statement.

Others described such alienation from religion that they avoided attending their parents' funerals or other family celebrations because they did not have the heart to enter a church.

One said he still suffers from PTSD symptoms when he is near churches: “When I smell incense or the smell of a church, I feel like throwing up. Even if I just go to a funeral or a wedding, I feel nervous and just want to get away.”

Another person said, “When my mother died… I never saw her in her casket. I didn't go to the funeral home because I couldn't stand listening to the priests spouting nonsense about her. Her body was theirs, not mine.”