In Ireland, the Sisters of Mercy operated, from the time of their foundation in 1831, as a series of autonomous convents, each of them subject to the authority and jurisdiction of their local bishop.
For a period of 20 years from the mid-1960s onwards, a process of amalgamation was initiated by the Sisters whereby all convents in any given diocese in Ireland were gathered under a single leadership structure.
By 1994 a second level of amalgamation was complete whereby all convents in all 26 dioceses of Ireland (together with the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy in South Africa, who had a strong Irish connection) were united as a single organisation.
[2] In 1996 Dear Daughter, a documentary looking at abuse allegations at St. Vincent's Industrial School, Goldenbridge, Ireland, which was run by the Sisters of Mercy, was screened on RTÉ Television.
Paul Pablo McCabe, a homeless man with schizophrenia, was alleged to have twice raped a child at a group home managed by Wall.
In relation to one of the two rape allegations, the Defence was able to prove that McCabe could not possibly have been there on the date in question – which was the 12th birthday of the accuser Regina Walsh.
A Kilkenny businessman read the newspaper and recognised Phelan as the woman who had made a false rape allegation against himself, and the defence came into possession of this evidence.
In 1999, the Irish government established a non-statutory Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, chaired by a High Court Judge, with broad terms of reference.
It ranged principally from overuse of corporal punishment to neglect of various kinds, but the Ryan Commission also noted, "some very serious incidents of sexual abuse perpetrated by lay staff in some schools".
[7]: 247-248 In 1996 Dear Daughter, a documentary film, described St. Vincent's Industrial School, Goldenbridge, a facility operated by the Sisters of Mercy, as emotionally abusive.
[11] In South Australia, a similar move to settle resulted from complaints in regard to care at the Goodwood orphanage, which was also run by the Sisters of Mercy.
[13] In 1997, Father Reginald Basil Durham was charged with 40 sexual offences against five former residents of St Joseph's Orphanage and a former member of his parish.
When questioned at the hearing, Bishop Heenan also admitted to being more concerned about protecting the reputation of the Catholic Church than considering the impact of abuse victims.
A transcript of the letter has been published online by victim advocacy group Broken Rites, and reads:[17]Over recent weeks, scurrilous allegations have been made against the Sisters and the priests, in the form of claims of physical and sexual abuse.
The Royal Commission panel heard that instead of contacting former residents to discuss the allegations of physical and sexual abuse, Sister Loch sought out information and even drafted a media release in an attempt to counteract what she saw as sensationalistic rumours.