Editorial: New abuse inquiry must be broad in its approach - Kilkenny Live

The Commission of Investigation being set up to examine historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders must be broad in its approach, and not limited to data supplied by the organisations at the heart of the scandal.

The Scoping Inquiry’s initial report last week told of some 2,395 allegations of historical sexual abuse, involving 884 alleged abusers in 308 schools, including a number of local schools.

However, as one brave local survivor says in our front page story this week, the figures provided therein by the religious orders do not appear to stack up against the sheer volume of allegations, and indeed, the number of convictions already secured against some of the individuals who have been found guilty of abuse. There is a mismatch, and the inquiry must bring that out into the light.

Already, advocacy groups, helplines, and gardaí are being contacted by significant numbers of victims since the publication of the report, many of whom have not come forward before.

What is also clear is that this kind of child abuse was endemic in society. It is was not confined to these institutions; it took place in other schools, organisations, and of course, the family home.

OUR LOCAL CHAMPION
There was great excitement on Sunday for the final stage of the Rás na mBán as it came to a thrilling conclusion on the streets of Kilkenny City.

It couldn’t have had a more fitting and satisfying outcome as local hero, Glenmore’s own Mia Griffin, became the first Irish rider to win the race since Olivia Dillon in 2013. The Kilkenny native is not long back from her first Olympic Games in Paris, and she finished safely in the bunch behind stage winner and teammate Lucy Lee to secure the overall victory.

To say it was inspirational for all the youngsters watching, and everyone else, would be an understatement. It’s the eighth successive year the Rás has taken place in Kilkenny, and organisers hailed the crowd as the largest yet. Here’s to many more!