For decades, the Christian Brothers ran Mount Cashel as a state-funded institution. Boys as young as five were beaten, sexually assaulted, and terrorized. When victims finally came forward in 1989, the resulting Royal Commission into the Response of the Newfoundland Criminal Justice System (the Hughes Inquiry) exposed a horrifying truth: the abuse was an open secret. Police, politicians, and even church officials had known for years but had done nothing.
Shadows in the Sanctuary: The Legacy of 'The Boys of St. Vincent' Released in 1992, The Boys of St. Vincent The Boys of St. Vincent
In 1975, a police investigation into abuse was shut down by the Chief of Police under pressure from government and church officials. The Reopening: For decades, the Christian Brothers ran Mount Cashel
As the truth about the abuse at St. Vincent's and other institutions became clear, there was a growing demand for justice and compensation for survivors. Many former residents of these institutions suffered from long-term psychological and physical health problems, unemployment, and social isolation. In 2013, the Irish government announced a scheme to provide ex-gratia payments to survivors of abuse in industrial schools and other institutions. Police, politicians, and even church officials had known