Sexual abuse was also rife, especially in boys' facilities, the report says. The religious authorities knew that such misconduct was a persistent problem, but children who complained were ignored or blamed for what had occurred.
When dealt with by school authorities, their cases were examined in isolation and secrecy, with "no attempt to address the underlying systemic nature of the problem," the commission found. Punishment for an offender often meant transfer to another institution, where, "in many instances, he was free to abuse again."
Leaders of the religious orders have contended that the claims of widespread abuse are exaggerated. They also have argued to the commission that, according to the mores of the day, the sexual abuse of children was not regarded as a criminal offense but rather a moral failing.
But the report notes that when laypeople were found to have abused children, the orders would turn those cases over to the police, whereas accusations against members of the order were dealt with internally.
The commission also blamed secular authorities for failure to protect the children in the Catholic-run facilities. Visits by Department of Education inspectors were announced in advance. And while the department should have realized that the problem of physical violence was endemic, its staff preferred to defer to the religious authorities, the report says.
The Irish government has already taken steps to compensate abuse victims, making payments of about $87,000, on average, to 12,000 people, the Associated Press reported. Claims from a further 2,000 people await adjudication.
Several hundred people have refused payments because they would have been required to waive their right to sue their alleged abusers.
Christine Buckley, 63, called the report a vindication for the victims.
Buckley's allegations about abuse she endured at the Goldenbridge Orphanage run by the Sisters of Mercy helped spark the inquiry.
"We have been vindicated. I acknowledge that," she said. "I may sound angry today, and I am very angry today, because over the last few days we were rehashing hurt."
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henry.chu@latimes.com
Special correspondent Donald Mahoney in Dublin contributed to this report.
