Education Minister Richard Bruton has said he is very "disturbed" by
allegations of sexual assault at a top fee-paying school that allegedly
went un-reported for almost a week.
"The allegations are very disturbing but there are now authorities
investigating this," he said of investigations by gardai and the child
and family agency Tusla into allegations that a 13-year old boy was
sexually assaulted in a dorm room at the exclusive King's Hospital
secondary school.
The incident involving up to eight boys is alleged to have taken
place last Thursday, but it's alleged that officials from the Church of
Ireland-run school didn't report the incident to authorities until
Tuesday.
"I think we need to give time for those investigations to take place. Clearly this is a matter that would worry any parent. But I think have to step back to allow those who have the authority to investigate and get the time and space to do that and then we can draw conclusions afterwards."
"I think we need to give time for those investigations to take place. Clearly this is a matter that would worry any parent. But I think have to step back to allow those who have the authority to investigate and get the time and space to do that and then we can draw conclusions afterwards."
Asked by Independent.ie whether school authorities should face
criminal prosecution it they do not follow proper abuse disclosure
guidelines, he said: "We have to wait and see what the
investigation by both Tusla and the gardai reveal. If there is need to
review any elements of our codes we will always review them in light of.
the findings of an inquiry such as this."
He added the Government can't prejudge what occurred but if there was a delay why did that delay occur?"
He said if there are "any weaknesses in the processes we will have to review them."
He said if there are "any weaknesses in the processes we will have to review them."