The largest Irish-language summer college in the State has denied that it failed to act on allegations of sex abuse against a teacher.
Colaiste na bhFiann called a press conference yesterday to state that, contrary to some media reports, it had recently initiated a Garda investigation of allegations of sex abuse made against a former teacher with the college. The college, founded in 1968, runs summer colleges and Irish-language youth clubs around the State and has dealt with some 45,000 students over the years.
The allegations of sex abuse first surfaced in 1981, according to Ms Caitriona Ni Cheallaigh, managing director of Colaiste na bhFiann. A father approached the then managing director alleging that his child was the victim of inappropriate behaviour by a teacher. This individual was prominent in the organisation on a voluntary basis, and also worked with children in his job.
"The matter was discussed with the child's father who ruled out any complaint and said he would deal with it in his own way. We had an ongoing relationship with the family, and the child's siblings continued to go to the summer colleges," she said.
The parents chose not to report the matter to the Garda and subsequently did not proceed with the allegation.
"Though the 1981 concerns were not proceeded with, the colaiste remained vigilant regarding the person against whom the allegations were made and that person never taught or took classes at any of Colaiste na bhFiann's summer colleges subsequently, and resigned from the organisation in 1986," Ms Ni Cheallaigh said.
However, she admitted this did not mean the person in question was kept away from young people in the organisation between 1981 and 1986. He was not directly involved in teaching children in the summer colleges, but was prominent in the organisation and gave lectures to leadership training courses. These could be attended by people as young as 15 or 16.
Pressed as to what changes took place in the organisation's attitude to him following the 1981 allegation, she said: "His access was not restricted."
In 1991 the person whose parents made the 1981 allegation made a complaint himself to the Garda. The Garda carried out an investigation and a file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, but the case was subsequently dropped.
The Garda did not contact the college about it or interview any of the staff, she said. Mr Liam O Maoladha was managing director at the time. "I was made aware of the allegation," he said. "The individual strenuously denied it. He said it had been fully investigated by the gardai. I believed him in 1991, and when I left the organisation I took the information with me. "I was gutted when Colaiste na bhFiann received a second complaint," he said.
In January this year the college received another complaint, from a different individual who was apparently unaware of the earlier one. The allegations related to incidents 25 years ago not only at Colaiste na bhFiann but at other locations and throughout the year.
This complainant refused to make a formal complaint to the Garda but agreed to allow the college go to make contact. The present managing director, Ms Ni Cheallaigh, then went to the sexual assault unit of the Garda Siochana and reported the allegation.
"A very false, unfair impression" was being given, Ms Ni Cheallaigh said, that the college had done nothing about the allegations whereas in fact it had initiated the current Garda investigation. She said the college was not being informed by the Garda about the progress of the investigation, and, as far as it knew, the complainant who approached the school in January had not made a statement to the Garda. The Garda has confirmed it is investigating allegations of child sex abuse in an Irish college, but says it is unable to comment further.
Referring to suggestions that funding to the organisation should be withheld until the investigation was completed, Ms Ni Cheallaigh said: "Colaiste na bhFiann came into possession of information and went to the gardai. We were not obliged to do it. What message does this [suggestion] give to other organisations who might find themselves in a similar situation? Was I off my head to go to the gardai at all? It is ludicrous that when an organisation acts in a responsible manner it should be penalised."
She urged anyone who had any information which could advance the investigation to contact the Garda at 01-4755555.