Minister Naughton announces the appointment of Commissioners to the Commission of Investigation into the Handling of Historical Child Sexual Abuse in Schools
- Published on: 21 April 2026
- Last updated on: 21 April 2026
The Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton, has today (21 April 2026) announced 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.
Announcing the appointments, Minister Naughton said:
"This Government is committed to ensuring that the truth of what happened is fully examined and that those who were failed as children are finally heard. I am pleased to appoint these eminently qualified individuals. Their combined expertise will be critical in underpinning the independence and effectiveness of the Commission. I thank them for taking on this responsibility and wish them well as they undertake this challenging but essential work.”
Continuing, the Minister said:
"Survivors must be at the heart of this process. A survivor-centred, trauma-informed approach will guide all aspects of the Commission’s work. I am conscious that individuals may come forward with deeply personal and sensitive experiences. It is essential that their information is treated with the highest standards of care, confidentiality and respect. I welcome the Commission’s careful and considered approach to ensuring these protections are fully in place before engagement begins.”
The Commission of Investigation was the principal recommendation of a Scoping Inquiry into Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools Run by Religious Orders. The Scoping Inquiry was established in response to revelations of allegations of historical sexual abuse in schools run by religious orders.
Minister Naughton also announced that, in addition to the appointment of the four commissioners, she had approved the appointment by the Chair of Ms Mary O’ Toole, who chaired the Scoping Inquiry, as senior legal advisor to the Commission.
The Government will continue to support the Commission as it progresses its work, recognising the importance of delivering accountability, truth and acknowledgement for those affected.
Notes to editors
Next steps
The Commission will conduct a national survey later this year in which those who have information concerning historical child sexual abuse in all day and boarding schools, including personal experiences, will be invited to provide initial information.
Commissioner Biographies
Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring was appointed a judge of the Circuit Court in 2012, where she presided almost exclusively over criminal courts, and a judge of the High Court in 2015 where she served for over ten years. A former Chair of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission from 2015 to 2021, she previously practised as a barrister specialising in criminal and public law, constitutional litigation and child law. She is also co-founder of the Children's Legal Centre and the Association for Criminal Justice Research and Development.
Roddy Bourke is an experienced solicitor who was partner in McCann FitzGerald LLP from 1992 to 2024 where he specialised in complex litigation and investigations. He has extensive experience acting in tribunals and commissions of investigation and is a former member and Chair of the Law Society’s Litigation, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Law Reform Committees.
Kieran McGrath is an independent safeguarding consultant with twenty years’ experience advising Government and non-Government bodies on child protection and welfare matters. In his career as a social worker, he specialised in sexual abuse prevention, risk assessment and clinical supervision. He led the trauma-informed survivor engagement process for the Scoping Inquiry into Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools Run by Religious Orders.
Michele Clarke is Adjunct Professor at the School of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity College Dublin. Her previous roles include Chief Social Worker in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and Chief Inspector of the Social Services Inspectorate. She was the trauma-informed survivor engagement advisor to the Scoping Inquiry into Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools Run by Religious Orders.
Establishment of the Commission of Investigation
The Scoping Inquiry was established by the Minister for Education in response to revelations of allegations of historical sexual abuse in schools run by religious orders, following the broadcast of an RTÉ Documentary on One programme, Blackrock Boys.
The Report of the Scoping Inquiry suggested the potential scale of historical sexual abuse in schools run by religious orders may be very significant. It further recommended that the Commission of Investigation’s remit be expanded to include historical child sexual abuse in all day and boarding schools.
The Commission has two main workstreams. One is the formal legal investigation of sample cases or instances of the handling of allegations, complaints or concerns of child sexual abuse in schools. The second is a Survivor Engagement Programme, which will provide an opportunity for those who experienced historical child sexual abuse in schools to give their account in a non-adversarial, informal and anonymised process that fully protects their privacy.
The Commission is independent in its work and will operate using survivor-centred, trauma-informed principles consistent with fair procedures. These principles also informed the work of the Scoping Inquiry.
Further information
The Chair of the Commission, Mr. Michael MacGrath, has provided updates online, and those are available here: Commission of Investigation into the Handling of Historical Child Sexual Abuse in Schools