‘Just the tip of the iceberg’ – international lawyer ‘deluged with calls’ over alleged atrocities in Spiritan schools

A significant number of the cases that Dr. Olivarius examines, referring to Blackrock College, south Dublin.

“We are now intensively investigating a case where the details of the abuse are appalling,” she said Irish Independent.

“It was about terrible violence. It was over a period of a few years and by a number of different Spiritan priests.

“First we will write to the Spiritans, hear their response and then escalate the case if they disagree with an apology that gives the man who was abused as a child help to heal.

“We will also be listening to what they are doing to help others who have been abused. Our client is very concerned that many others have been abused who also need help.”

It has now emerged that Gardaí have been investigating allegations of abuse against Spiritan members over a 50-year period.

Blackrock College has apologized to the victims, describing the abuse as a “disgraceful period” in the school’s history.

The Spiritan community, which confirmed the allegations affect nine of its schools, has also apologized to the victims and survivors, insisting it is doing everything in its power to ensure the schools are “safe places for the current generation.” ” are.

for dr Olivarius must be provided with substantial compensation for those whose lives were shattered at the hands of the Spiritans, formerly known as the Order of the Holy Spirit.

She has been fighting for people who have been abused and harassed at schools since she was 21 years old.

Her work on the landmark Alexander v. Yale case in the United States, the first to bring charges of sexual harassment against an educational institution in America, led to the courts declaring sexual harassment of students illegal.

In later years, she turned her attention to those who were being sexually abused by members of the Catholic Church.

“The Spiritans have a long history of abuse and this latest scandal is just the tip of the iceberg,” she said.

“Many of the potential cases we have been contacted about allegedly took place in Blackrock. This is a damn good place.

“When people are harmed and in great need, they may not be ready to file a lawsuit, but we are inundated with calls.

“I came to the UK over 20 years ago and have practices in the UK, US and now Ireland. If I filed these cases in the States, the victims would get millions of dollars.

“In Ireland the damage is much less. This is how the system works.

“They (the Spiritans) must make serious reparations to the victims so that they have a chance of healing and a fair and kind life. You must apologize; They have to prove that they now have systems in place so that abuse no longer defines these schools.”

She criticized the church for its handling of abuse allegations in the US and described its handling as “dishonest” and “not very Christian”.

“The Catholic Church now has an established history in the US of deliberately moving funds to avoid being convicted of abuse by courts.

“Some of the men who run facilities like this are obviously aggrieved individuals who think it’s okay to sexually abuse boys.

“I will tell you that we have been approached by a number of men in the States who have been abused in Ireland. We have 70 other men who have been abused and want to talk to us. They may not want to come forward or file cases, but we won’t know until we investigate.

“We need to be sure of our facts before going public with allegations. After carefully examining the case we are about to bring, we are confident that justice must be done in this case – that our client is a good man who has been badly harmed by a priest and teacher. He was a child; none of the abuse was his fault.”

dr Olivarius, who holds both American and British citizenship, was expected to practice in Ireland much earlier, until Brexit dashed her plans. She is now striving to bring justice to her clients.

“The currency of justice is money. That’s what people need. They’ve lost marriages, they’re mentally ill, they drink, they gamble. These are the things that happen when you are abused.

“People shouldn’t apologize for looking for money when the church has plenty of money. We owe it to these people.”

A Spiritan spokesman said a number of former students had made new allegations after RTÉ Radio 1’s broadcast of the documentary on Monday.

“It has been in the single digits since yesterday, but is expected to rise,” it said.

Allegations of abuse have been made by 233 people against 77 Irish Spiritans in government departments across Ireland and overseas.

To date, more than 80 settlements have been concluded and further proceedings are ongoing.

The Spiritans admitted to paying over €5 million in abuse resolution claims and support services.

Eight of the schools at the center of the allegations are based in Dublin. The other school was Rockwell College in Cashel, Co Tipperary.

Brothers David, 58, and Mark Ryan, 61, told RTÉ that between the ages of 12 and 17 they were repeatedly abused by members of the Spiritans while visiting Blackrock.

In 2002, the Ryan brothers made statements to the Gardaí, leading to multiple charges being brought against Father Tom O’Byrne, who was then 82 and lived on the Blackrock grounds.

He denied the allegations against him and initiated court proceedings to drop the criminal case.

In 2007, the courts ruled that the criminal case should be dropped. Father O’Byrne died in 2010 without ever having been brought to justice.