ECHR rules in favour of Louise O’Keeffe in abuse case

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled in favour of Irish woman Louise OKeeffe in her landmark case against the Irish State, ruling that the Irish state failed to meet its obligation to protect Ms OKeeffe from the sexual abuse she suffered while a pupil in an Irish national school.

Suzanne Lynch, Barry Roche

Irish woman Louise OKeeffe, who today won a landmark case against the Irish State, said the ruling meant the Department of Education must protect children in schools.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled this morning that the State had failed to meet its obligation to protect Ms OKeeffe from the sexual abuse she suffered while a pupil in an Irish national school.

Ms O Keeffe had brought her case to the European Court after the Irish Supreme court ruled in 2009 that the State was not legally liable for the abuse suffered by Ms OKeeffe by her school principal while a nine-year old girl at Dunderrow National School.

Speaking from Cork after the ruling Ms OKeeffe said: The message I have today for the Department of Education on foot of this ruling is that you must protect children in the schools, its a right that the children have and its now been recognised in Europe and it must be done.

Her solicitor Ernest Cantillon said the State had 135 cases pending this judgment and said they should be dealt with by the State as soon as possible.

Mr Cantillon told RT Radio that a wrong had been done to Ms OKeeffe and that she should be given an apology by the State.

He also said Ms OKeeffe should not have to ask for an apology from the State. She should be given one, he said.

Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn this afternoon said he would have to consider the judgment and receive advice before he can give a reaction.

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ECHR rules in favour of Louise O’Keeffe in abuse case