Five families seek probe into alleged child abuse at school

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Five families’ judicial review proceedings seeking an investigation into alleged abuse of children at their school came before the High Court on 29 January 2024. The allegations concern a rural-based school whose identity, and the children’s identities, cannot be reported by court order.

The families say allegations by a former staff member include that two staff members pulled and dragged children in the school’s special autism unit, shouted at them and grabbed them by the neck and chin. The former staff member also claimed they were directed on occasions to leave a child in wet and soiled underwear. Other allegations include pushing children into sensory rooms alone.

The families seek an order requiring the board of management to investigate the disclosures, along with other orders concerning the staff members and the investigation. They say they were informed that the Child and Family Agency’s investigation was at a preliminary stage.

Ms Justice Niamh Hyland directed that the applications for permission to bring the challenges be heard on notice to the respondents. The cases were to return before the court the following month.