Child Abuse
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A MOTHER-OF-TWO who was sexually abused by a school principal could lose her home as the State aggressively pursues her for €500,000 in legal costs.
She lost her action against the State earlier this year over the appalling abuse and as a result now faces the legal bill.
Yesterday, however, Louise O'Keeffe (42) was awarded €305,000 in damages against the principal, Leo Hickey, who was jailed in 1998 for three years for abuse of 20 children.
But it is unlikely she will ever get a penny of it from the former principal of Dunderrow National School, Kinsale, Co Cork.
Instead she lives in fear that she and her two young children will be rendered destitute by the State's continued pursuit of the outstanding legal bill.
Last night, she issued an emotional appeal to the Government to live up to its responsibilities over the terrible ordeal she suffered 30 years ago.
"My parents had no choice about sending me to national school.
"I had to go.
"The responsibility for ensuring we were safe and protected rests with the State," she said.
Colm O'Gorman, director of the abuse victims' support group One in Four, accused the State of performing a "rather blatant dodge" in claiming to have no legal responsibility for the actions of teachers in national schools.
He said the Department of Education directly paid the salaries of teachers, set the terms of their employment and agreed their contracts.
But, he said, it continues to place responsibility for their actions on schools' boards of management which are made up of volunteers.
Whatever about the State's historical dependence on religious and charity organisations for schooling in the past, it must now "accept responsibility" for children in its schools, he said.
Mr O'Gorman, a Progressive Democrat candidate in the forthcoming election, said other victims of abuse have been intimidated from pursuing their cases against the State as a direct result of the fate being endured by Ms O'Keeffe's.
"Solicitors are much clearer in their warnings to people with regard to the risk of having to pay costs.
"If it is the State's intention, to make an example out of Ms O'Keeffe, it has had the desired effect," he said.
Mr O'Gorman also dismissed yesterday's damages as a "paper award" as the court has questioned Mr Hickey's ability to pay.
Mr Justice Eamon de Valera awarded Ms O'Keeffe €305,104 in damages, noting she had suffered "catastrophic injuries" as a schoolgirl.
He said Mr Hickey had aggravated the situation by not coming to court and awarded costs against him.
Mr Hickey was sentenced to three years in jail in 1998 after pleading guilty to 21 charges of assault from a sample of 380 counts involving 20 girls.
Earlier this year, Mr Justice de Valera ruled the State was not to blame for the indecent assaults suffered by Ms O'Keeffe and said he had no option but to award costs, estimated to be about €500,000, to the State.
Ms O'Keeffe has appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court.
Her solicitor confirmed yesterday that the Department of Education "continues to look for legal costs,", even though the High Court has found she "was abused in an appalling fashion".
A Department of Education spokeswoman said she could not comment, given the pending Supreme Court action.
Ms O'Keeffe said she hoped the Government would consider "the bigger picture".
"I've already gone through one nightmare - I don't want to have to go through another one," she said.