Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I rise today to ask the Leader for a debate on the Louise O'Keeffe case, the result of which was a ground-breaking one in Europe today. As politicians, we should feel great shame at what happened to this citizen. This lady approached me when I was a Deputy some years ago and I felt frustrated because, first, my representations fell on deaf ears and, second, I was told the matter was sub judice and that it was a matter for the courts. I admire her tenacity and courage in pursuing this case over nearly four decades.

While I congratulate her on her success, I believe the State has failed her. I call on the Minister for Education and Skills to today make an appropriate and abject apology to her on behalf of the State. She was frustrated in her attempts to get justice and the High Court and the Supreme Court let her down. She eventually found solace elsewhere in Europe. I have been troubled for some time about the situation which is developing in the State where we have a David and Goliath battle whenever a citizen takes on the power of the State. The State has the power of the Attorney General and free access to legal aid. I am aware of another similar case where a farmer became so frustrated in his efforts to find justice that he gave up. In such situations the State should be more forthcoming and where there is a liability and a responsibility, somebody should own up to this. The court costs in this case will be astronomical, but that is not the issue; it is a matter of principle. As I said, I feel ashamed that the State and I have let down this woman, but the State is bigger than me. Somebody needs to come forward to make an open apology to her, whether it be someone from the previous or the current Government, the Taoiseach or the Minister for Education and Skills. They need to make an open apology to her before she looks for it. She deserves an apology and we owe it to her for her perseverance since 1973. The most frustrating aspect of the case is that two years prior to her being abused, reports of abuse were made from the same school of abuse, but they were ignored. Shame on all of us for allowing that to happen. If the woman in question is correct - I heard one interview given by her in which she expressed her concerns - the laws needed to protect children and prevent a repeat of what happened to her 35 or 40 years ago are still not in place. If that is the case, it is a source of serious concern for us all. I hope we can ensure this will never happen again in our lifetime. This is a very sad case and I feel ashamed to speak about it because we have all failed the woman concerned.