Irish Times
More than 300 victims of alleged child sexual abuse at the organisation have been identified
Scouting Ireland has identified more than 300 victims of alleged child sexual abuse, amid emerging evidence that abuse was “covered up” in the youth organisation for decades.
Volunteers who allegedly preyed on children were “protected” and permitted to move from group to group, a meeting of senior scout leaders was told on Monday night. An ongoing historic review in the organisation has now identified 317 alleged victims, and 212 alleged child abusers.
The number of known alleged perpetrators and victims has nearly tripled in the three weeks since the abuse scandal was disclosed before an Oireachtas committee.
Aisling Kelly, chair of the organisation’s new board, told a private meeting of senior volunteers on Monday night a picture was emerging of “extensive, prolonged, and at times organised child sexual abuse” from the organisation’s past.
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