Press Release: Child Sexual Abuse Case - Restore Together welcomes sentencing of Peter Kelly & calls on victims to consider non-adversarial route to justice
8 December 2025:
Restore Together has welcomed the administration of justice with the sentencing of former Willow Park School teacher and convicted paedophile Peter Kelly, following a case taken by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The group especially commends the bravery of the eight witnesses who testified about the abuse they suffered.
While acknowledging this outcome, Restore Together is urging victims/survivors of child sexual abuse at Spiritan schools—including Blackrock College & Willow Park School, Rockwell College, St. Mary’s College, St. Michael’s College, and Templeogue College—who have not yet sought help, to consider a non-adversarial route to healing and justice through the Independent Restorative Programme.
The programme offers a range of free supports, including therapy/counselling and financial redress without any need to go to court. The Spiritan Order has fully committed to the programme, which is led by a team of independent restorative justice professionals.
More information is available at: www.restoretogether.ie/contact
About the Restorative Programme
The Restorative Programme is a ground-breaking development in Irish social justice, designed to address trauma in a holistic, collaborative, and non-adversarial manner. Its aim is to support healing, deliver justice, and rebalance the power between victim and perpetrator.
The elements of the Restorative Programme include:
Therapy and Counselling
Free therapeutic support for victims/survivors.Restorative Justice
A victim-centred process focused on personal healing, conducted at a pace that suits the individual.Redress
A monetary payment acknowledging wrongdoing and contributing to setting right what was done.Truth-Gathering Process
Capturing the full social history of the schools during the period when abuses occurred, to ensure closure and meaningful learning for future management.Individuals associated with the schools—pupils, teachers, staff, managers, whether abused or not—may contribute testimony if they wish.
Memorialisation
The hope that each school will establish a memorial on its grounds to acknowledge past harms and emphasise the importance of vigilance against sexual abuse. These may include physical memorials.
ENDS
For further information:
Conor Dempsey
Email: conor.dempsey@dempseycorporate.com
Tel: 086-247 9892
About Restore Together
Restore Together is an advocacy group comprising both victims/survivors of abuse and non-victims. Its mission is to support those who suffered sexual abuse in Spiritan schools, with over 300 victims/survivors supported to date.
The group is working with the Spiritan Order to implement a professionally guided Restorative Justice programme aimed at helping victims/survivors heal from trauma endured as children and continuing into adulthood.
Restore Together’s objectives for all victims/survivors are:
TRUTH – JUSTICE – PEACE – RECONCILIATION – HEALING
Spiritan schools involved include:
Blackrock College & Willow Park School, Rockwell College, St. Mary’s College, St. Michael’s College, Templeogue College.