Naming of deceased Jesuits regarding child sexual abuse complaints

The Jesuit Order has today, Wednesday 12 February, 2025, placed in the public domain the names of fourteen deceased Jesuits as recommended by an Independent Working Group established by the Order which examined the files of deceased Jesuits against whom complaints of child sexual abuse had been made. The Order has also taken the decision to place in the public domain the name of a fifteenth Jesuit about whom additional information has since become available. Click here to access the report of the Independent Working Group »

In a statement issued today Jesuit Provincial Fr Shane Daly SJ says that the Jesuit Order is pursuing a process of acknowledging child abuse perpetrated by Jesuits over the past 70 years. He says that the Jesuits are reckoning with their response to that abuse and that the process is one of accountability, transparency and making amends. In a statement the Provincial says,

“We are truly ashamed that innocent young people were abused by those Jesuits who were supposed to be serving them and caring for them. To learn that much of their abuse could have been avoided, had timely and necessary action been taken by those to whom the abuse was made known, must surely compound the suffering of those who were abused. We put the good name of the institution before their suffering and for this we are truly sorry. Our expression of sorrow and regret for the suffering and pain inflicted on children who suffered abuse is real. But it will mean little if it is not accompanied by effective action such as the public naming we have done today, which is part of an ongoing process. Again, I want to invite any person who was harmed by any Jesuit to consider speaking with us. We really want to hear from you.” (See contact details at end of article)

A document entitled The Naming of Deceased Jesuits Regarding Child Sexual Abuse Complaints has been published today by the Order » It includes background information on this public naming process, the names of the fifteen Jesuits, with a short biography and the number of complaints against each one, and, where relevant, an account of the Order’s response to the complaints when first received. It also contains an ‘Acknowledgement of Failings on the part of the Order.’  

The Jesuit Safeguarding Office has professional laypersons who work at the pace of the individual who is making the disclosure of their experience and exploring with them what their needs and wishes are. To date, in the region of 160 people have contacted the Jesuits directly.

Information is shared as openly as possible where individuals have questions arising from their experience.

Sometimes a person wishes to meet with a Jesuit, often the Provincial, and receive an acknowledgment or an apology. Such a meeting is facilitated at the right time for the person who has come forward. Sometimes a person wishes to receive a letter of apology.

Counselling and psychotherapy is funded by the Jesuits. Many people have decided to access counselling, also for family members.

Redress is offered by the Jesuit Order. The Jesuits have sought to make this process as least cumbersome as possible and have put in place Redress Schemes to facilitate this. To  access information on the Jesuit Redress Scheme for people who have suffered child sexual abuse click here »

Further Information:

Today’s action by the Order follows on from the naming of Fr Joseph Marmion SJ in 2021 as a Jesuit who had perpetrated child abuse, and the further naming in 2024 of Fr Paul Andrews SJ and Fr Dermot Casey SJ, in connection with a Narrative Record » of the abuse perpetrated by Joseph Marmion and the Jesuit Order’s handling of that abuse. It was clear to the Order that the public naming of such Jesuits has resulted in people who had been abused as children, coming forward to speak about their experience.

To try and reach out to potential survivors of child sexual abuse by other Jesuits, the Provincial Shane Daly SJ, in February 2024, established an Independent Working Group » to consider and advise upon the criteria to be applied by the Jesuit Order when deciding whether to publicly name a deceased Jesuit who was the subject of child sexual abuse allegations. And to make recommendations regarding those deceased Jesuits who had been the subject of complaint and who met these applied standards. 

Each Member of the Working Group through their various disciplines has had experience in the analysis and consideration of material involving child sexual abuse complaints.

The group was composed of Mr. John MacMenamin, former Judge of the Supreme Court, (Chair); Dr. Rosaleen McElvaney PhD, Principal Psychotherapist in the Alders Unit at Children’s Health Ireland, Connolly Hospital and Lecturer in Psychology DCU, and Mr. Paul Harrison, Independent Children’s Services and Social Work Advisor, formerly Director of Policy and Strategy in the Child and Family Agency. 

The Independent Working Group examined the files of 37 deceased Jesuits who were the subject of child sexual abuse complaints. They recommended fourteen be named publicly and also emphasised that, should the Order receive further information that fulfils the criteria identified by the Working Group for placing the names of deceased Jesuits in the public domain, then further naming should take place.

 The Order is committed to this ongoing process and has today publicly named a fifteenth Jesuit in this regard as further information has since been received.

 The Order has set up a special page on their province website where all the documents concerning this naming process can be accessed. This includes the full list of the fifteen Jesuits named today, with short biographies, and a statement of accountability. Background information regarding the naming process, and details of the range of services offered by the Order, such as redress, and the funding of counselling is also available on the webpage

Click here to access the page, the names and these documents »

Anyone with concerns or complaints regarding the Jesuits now named or regarding another Jesuit can contact the Order’s Child Safeguarding Office and/or the relevant authorities. The Jesuit Order has also set up a special helpline which operates from 8am until 8pm daily including weekends.

​Fr Shane Daly SJ says “I am conscious that today  will be a painful one for many people most especially for those who have suffered abuse. I  am also aware of the families and relatives of those Jesuits named, members of the Jesuit Order and their colleagues.  We have learnt from those who have suffered abuse, that it was the Jesuit Order’s  public acceptance of its responsibility regarding what happened and how they responded, that carried a greater weight with them than the Order’s offer of support. With the publication of this  document today, the Jesuits are taking the opportunity to convey a message to any person who, as a child, was harmed by any Jesuit, that should you wish to make contact, we are ready to hear​ from you,  we want to hear from you, and we want to try to make amends.”

Contact details:

Email: [email protected]

Helpline mobile number:  083 087 4254 (8am -8pm weekdays and weekends)

Jesuit Provincialate Reception   01 4987333 (9am -4pm Monday to Friday)

To contact the statutory authorities:
Tusla (Child & Family Agency) – Tel: 074 9102233
Gardaí National Protective Services Bureau – Tel: 01 6663430/6663435 or
email : [email protected]

Free Counselling & Support is available through Towards Healing, an independent
organisation providing professional support for people who have experienced
institutional, clerical or religious abuse in Ireland.

Freephone – RoI: 1800 303416
Freephone – N.Ireland & UK: 0800 0963315
Freephone – Hearing Impaired: 085 8022859