Sisters confirm probe into school sex abuse
Added on May 18, 2006
Thursday May 18th 2006
THE Benedictine Nuns who run the prestigious Kylemore Abbey school in Connemara confirmed last night that an investigation is under way into alleged abuse at the all-girls school.
Details of the investigation by the Health Service Executive (HSE) into alleged lesbian sexual abuse were published in yesterday's Irish Independent.
It is understood that the HSE investigators are examining claims made by a former schoolgirl of alleged sexual interference by a nun.
While the incidents are alleged to have taken place 20 years ago at the picturesque Connemara school over 20 years ago, the allegation is believed to have been made more recently.
A church-led investigation into the claims failed to result in any prosecution and it is believed that the nun accused of carrying out the abuse denied the allegation.
An audit of the investigation carried out by the Benedictine order as a result of the recommendations of the Ferns Report resulted in the matter being referred to the health authorities late last year.
The HSE investigation is expected to be concluded in June.
Brian McDonald
? Irish Independent