Australians protest clergy sexual abuse outside St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney during Pope Benedict XVI's visit to celebrate World Youth Day in 2008. He met with the victims of abuse in Australia and in the U.S. that year. Photo: CNS photo/Paul Haring The Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton, has announced on April 21, 2026, the appointment of four commissioners to the Commission of Investigation into the Handling of Historical Child Sexual Abuse in Schools.
The Minister confirmed that Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, senior legal consultant Mr Roddy Bourke, and child safeguarding experts Mr Kieran McGrath and Ms Michele Clarke will join Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, who was appointed as Chair last year, in leading the work of the Commission.
This represents a significant step forward in addressing the deeply painful legacy of historical child sexual abuse in Irish day and boarding schools, and in examining the failures that allowed that abuse to occur.
The establishment of the Commission follows a central recommendation of the Scoping Inquiry into Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools run by religious orders. That Inquiry was commissioned in response to serious and deeply troubling allegations of abuse, and made clear the need for a comprehensive, independent investigation.