Michael Ferry, right, being taken into court in Donegal Town in December.
FORMER Justice Minister Alan Shatter had asked for a new report into the Micheal Ferry abuse scandal before he left office, Donegal Daily has learned.
New Minister Frances Fitzgerald will review the report when she gets it, her spokesman has confirmed.
It has led to hopes among Ferry’s victims that they may finally found out more about the scandal.
The Minister confirmed to Deputy Pearse Doherty that Mr Shatter had asked for a report on the case just weeks ago following a decision by Minister Fitzgerald – then as Children’s Minister – to release the contents of a damning HSE review of the case to the victims and their families.
Michael Ferry is serving 14 years in prison for abusing young boys in the grounds of a school building where he worked as caretaker.
Ferry was paid by Colaiste Cholmcille for his work at the former Ardscoil Mhuire building in Gaoth Dobhair right up until 2010 – nine years after Ferry pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a boy in the grounds of the school.
His continued work there horrified the nation when Ferry was convicted again two years ago of abusing more boys, some of them after his 2002 conviction.
At the time Minister Shatter described the affair as “outrageous” and ordered a Garda investigation as well as a separate ministerial report.
Deputy Doherty told Donegal Daily that Deputy Shatter had assured him before his resignation that he was looking again at the affair.
“To be fair to him, he did promise to ask for a report from his officials at the Department of Justice,” said Deputy Doherty.
“Minister Fitzgerald has confirmed this to me and she is now awaiting that report. She said a decision on its publication or release to victims would be taken once she has seen it. Obviously I believe that like the HSE report, this new report should be given to victims.”
The minister’s spokesman said: “A further report had been sought from the Garda authorities by the Minister’s predecessor on any issues arising from the case, following the decision not to prosecute, and this material will be considered by Minister Fitzgerald upon its receipt. It is not possible to make any further comment pending that.”