Past pupils of Christian Brothers schools and institutions in Ireland are being invited to attend an event at the national convention centre in Dublin on October 20th. It is being held to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Edmund Ignatius Rice, founder of the order.

Billed as “an evening with former president Mary McAleese and guests”, the theme is “to reuinite, reconcile, give thanks and look to the future . . .” Central to the event will be pupils abused in institutions run by Brothers and their representatives. It will look to the Brothers’ future and to setting up a network of past pupil unions.

Fr Peter McVerry, Dr Daire Keogh, Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh and the Artane band will take part. Senator Martin McAleese said it “would not happen without the abused. We all have to stand together. It would be wrong to do otherwise.”