CRUELTY of the scale, intensity and impact revealed to the Child Abuse Commission is almost impossible to encapsulate, but one man epitomises the system that savaged the childhoods of thousands of innocents.He is given the name John Brander in the report, gifted a pseudonym behind which to hide the appalling deeds he perpetrated on children in nine schools over 40 years, all the while protected by senior religious figures and civil authorities.
But his real name was Donal Dunne, a Christian Brother who began his teaching career in St Mary’s CBS, Dublin in the early 1940s before moving to Mullingar CBS, Co Westmeath and St Michael’s CBS and James’s Street CBS, Dublin, leaving a trail of abuse behind him.
Documents reveal the first complaints were received in the 1940s, but it was only in 1957 that the Congregation took action, allowing him dispensation from his vows and warning him he might only get work as a gardener from then on.
That was a Friday. He was principal of Lanesboro NS, Co Longford the following Monday. He sexually abused children there from 1957 to 1960 before moving to Ballyfermot NS, Dublin where he was reported for physically assaulting a child. The only action taken was that the child was moved from his class.
Dunne then appeared at Rath NS, Ballybrittas, Co Laois from 1964-1966 where the Department of Education was asked to investigate complaints that he was battering children for poor academic performance.
Dunne denied it, the school manager backed him up and the investigation died. Next he was in Naomh Mhuire NS, Geisill, Co Offaly from 1966-69 where he indecently assaulted boys and physically beat girls.
The parish priest and bishop were informed and he was removed with a glowing reference, the priest writing: "I find it impossible to speak or write too highly of Mr [Dunne’s] complete dedication to his professional duties."
From 1969-1975 he taught at Presentation Convent, Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny, again physically and sexually abusing children, again prompting complaints and again escaping sanction.
Finally he moved to Sacred Heart Convent of Mercy, Tullamore, Co Offaly where his physical assaults on the pupils prompted a Garda investigation that fizzled out.
A former pupil, concerned to find his old tormentor was still teaching, contacted the bishop, who dismissed his concerns, and the Department of Education, who failed to investigate.
In 1995, retired and in his mid-70s, he sexually assaulted a young boy and was finally prosecuted, the court case enabling other victims to come forward, resulting in his eventual imprisonment.
What is striking about the saga is not just the vile nature of Dunne and the spinelessness of those who shielded him, but the fact that the children he abused had homes to go to at the end of the day and parents to love and protect them and still the young victims could not be saved from his brutal ways.
How much worse it must have been for the 70,000 children whose only home was a reformatory, industrial school or orphanage, and whose only semblance of a parent was a religious brother or sister who was at best ill-trained, institutionalised and ignorant and at worst, cruel to the core.
They had no one to turn to when they were hungry, cold, sick, frightened, bullied, beaten or raped. They had no one to fight for their rights to care, education and safety.
"Indifference" is a word used repeatedly throughout the reports 2,500 pages of reports to describe the attitude of the authorities, religious and civil, throughout the century of savagery.
It should all be different now but the commission found only one order, the Rosminians, willing to unconditionally accept responsibility for its members’ past actions.
The others acknowledged abuse took place, but refused to take congregational responsibility for it, were "adversarial" in their approach and "defensive" in responding to complaints.
The continuation of this 19th century attitude at a 21st century inquiry did not go unnoticed.
"This report should give rise to debate and reflection," the commission said.
"Although institutional care belongs to a different era, many of the lessons to be learned from what happened have contemporary applications for the protection of vulnerable people in our society."
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