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Following revelations in the RTE Investigates Programme in 2019 and the report of Mr Ian Elliot (safeguarding expert), harrowing details of Scouting Ireland abuse have come to light from former members of the organisation, and they continue to be reported to Scouting Ireland and the Statutory Authorities.
In 2018, State funding of Scouting Ireland was suspended when governance issues were highlighted in the organisation. This was following the handling of a complaint of rape made by a former member and how the Board handled the complaint. An internal inquiry affirmed the mishandling of the complaint, which led to changes having to be made in the company’s board of directors.
Following this, an RTE Investigates programme in November 2019 lifted the lid on the alarming activities of a large number of scout leaders who had been sexually assaulting the organisation’s young members over many years. The programme and the subsequent report revealed that abusers existed at all levels in the organisations in the CBSI and SAI and were rarely removed even when rumours of sexual abuse circulated.
The scandal has rocked the organisation to its core and, at one stage even saw funding suspended to the organisation and calls for a State Inquiry into the abuse allegations. The programme featured several victims who gave their accounts of their experiences, and led to calls for a statutory inquiry into the organisation. The organisation then appointed Ian Elliot a child safeguarding expert who conducted a detailed review which established that there was a culture of cronyism and that abusers were protected at the highest levels of the organisation. It further concluded that complaints were often quashed by senior leaders in the organisation and that many abusers were able to remain in the organisation even after there was an awareness of their abuse of young members.
A helpline has been set up by TUSLA who has a concern or wishes to make a referral about the recent Scouting Ireland Report. The helpline number is 1800-805-665 and is open from 9 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday. Other valuable contacts: Dublin Rape Crisis Network national 24-hour helpline 1800-778-888. Go to TUSLA website
Scouting Ireland published a Report into The Alleged Cover-Up of Sexual Abuse in The Organisation on May 15th, 2020. View the report
Coleman Legal have been assisting victims of scouting Ireland abuse for several years and has considerable expertise in this area. If you have been a victim of sexual abuse in Scouting Ireland an experienced solicitor at Coleman Legal will be happy to speak with you and confidentially review your case.
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