A clear pattern to emerge from evidence presented to the committee to date is the marked increase in allegations of abuse which followed the Taoiseach's apology in May 1999.
Most explicit in addressing this pattern was Brother David Gibson of the Christian Brothers, who told the committee last Friday that the Taoiseach's apology, the almost simultaneous States of Fear series on RTE (the last programme in the three-part series was broadcast on the evening of the apology), and the announcement of a redress scheme in October 2000 led to an additional 380 abuse complaints against the congregation.
He disputed the quality of these complaints, which included allegations of sexual abuse, compared to those made previously. He told the committee that before 1990 there had been three to four "mainly historical" complaints against the congregation. By 1996 the figure had risen to about 30. Prior to the Christian Brothers' own apology in March 1998, the figure was 80. It rose to what he described as a "colossal" 340 after that apology, when a further 260 complaints were made.
This led to 18 Brothers being withdrawn from ministry, with three reinstated following investigation. Altogether, 791 complaints have been made against the congregation, mainly about physical abuse. He said the Christian Brothers "did not accept some of the newer (post-1999) complaints".
There were instances where "we wonder very seriously about the truth of some complaints".
Brother Denis Minihan of the Presentation Brothers said that in 1998 abuse complaints of a general nature were made against the congregation by two former residents. After the Taoiseach's apology they received "a steady stream of complaints, mostly from solicitors", rising to 15 by October 2000 (when the redress scheme was announced).
By November 2001 there were 33 cases. By June 2002, when the indemnity deal with the State was signed, the number was 60. He said it had risen since, but didn't say by how much.
Sister Una O'Neill of the Sisters of Charity also told the committee that there had been "a significant increase in complaints against members of the congregation from the announcement of the redress scheme in 2000". She did not give figures.
Sister Claire O'Sullivan of the Good Shepherd Sisters said that before 1996 there were no complaints against the congregation. In 1997 there were five, four more in 1998, and a further three in 1999 before the Taoiseach's apology, giving a total of 12.
Between the Taoiseach's apology and June 2000 they had 27 more. Between October 2000 and January 2002, when the indemnity deal was agreed in principle, they had a further 123.
There were 105 more by December 2002, and since the establishment of the redress board another 220, making a total 467.