Please see below statement for St Declan’s re the naming of deceased Jesuits regarding child sexual abuse complaints:

Today, Wednesday 12 February 2025, the Jesuit Order has placed in the public domain the names of fourteen deceased Jesuits as recommended by an Independent Working Group established by the Order which examined the files of deceased Jesuits against whom complaints of child sexual abuse had been made. The Order has also taken the decision to place in the public domain the name of one further Jesuit about whom additional information has become available.

The Order has set up a special page on their province website where all the documents concerning this naming process can be accessed. This includes the full list of the fifteen named Jesuits, with short biographies, and a statement of accountability. Information on the Independent Working Group can be accessed on the webpage along with their report on their work. Also available is background information regarding the naming process, and details of the range of services offered by the Order including redress and the funding of counselling. Click here to access this page: https://jesuit.ie/naming-of-deceased-jesuits-regarding-child-sexual-abuse-complaints/ 

The Jesuit Order have already named publicly three other deceased Jesuits with complaints of child sexual abuse again them including Fr Dermot Casey SJ and Fr Paul Andrews SJ both former directors of our St Declan’s school.

As we said at that time it is a matter of profound sorrow and regret to us that any child associated with our school would have suffered abuse by those who were meant to care for and protect them.

The Department of Education Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2023 are strictly adhered to in St Declan’s. Our safeguarding statement and safeguarding policy are available on the school website (www.stdeclans.ie).

Regarding this further naming by the Jesuit Order, the Provincial Fr Shane Daly SJ says that the Jesuits are pursuing a process of acknowledging child abuse perpetrated by members of the Order over the past 70 years. The Jesuits are reckoning with their response to that abuse. And the process is one of accountability, transparency and making amends in relation to those who were sexually abused by Jesuits. He adds,

“We are truly ashamed that innocent young people who were abused by those Jesuits who were supposed to be serving them and caring for them. To learn that much of their abuse could have been avoided, had timely and necessary action been taken by those to whom the abuse was made known, must surely compound the suffering of those who were abused. We put the good name of the institution before their suffering and for this we are truly sorry. But words of sorrow will mean little if they are not accompanied by effective action such as the public naming we have done today, which is part of an ongoing process. Again, I want to invite any person who was harmed by any Jesuit to consider speaking with us. We really want to hear from you.”

 The Jesuit Order says it will in future make public the names of other deceased Jesuits who are the subject of child sexual abuse complaint if further information is received that fulfils the criteria identified by the Independent Working Group for placing the names of deceased Jesuits in the public domain.

Anyone with concerns or complaints regarding the Jesuits now named, or named in the past, or any other Jesuit, can contact the Order’s Child Safeguarding Office and/or the relevant authorities. The Jesuit Order has also set up a special helpline which operates from 8am until 8pm daily including weekends.

Contact details:

Email: safeguarding@jesuit.ie

Jesuit Provincialate Reception (Monday to Friday, 9am -4pm) phone number: 01 4987333

Helpline mobile number:  083 087 4254.