Abuse survivor Louise O'Keeffe's fight for justice (opens original article in a new tab)

Louise O'Keeffe, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse by a school principal in the 1970s, fought for justice against the Irish State, leading to a 2014 European Court of Human Rights ruling against the government for failing to protect her. Despite this, ex-gratia schemes for abuse survivors faced significant obstacles, leaving many, including other victims from the same school, without adequate redress.

• Louise O'Keeffe was sexually abused by her school principal in the 1970s and later fought for justice against the State.
• The European Court of Human Rights ruled in her favor in 2014, finding the State failed to protect her from abuse.
• Ex-gratia payment schemes for abuse survivors faced legal and procedural challenges, with many excluded despite the court's ruling.
• Survivors of the same school as O'Keeffe remain without redress, citing discrimination compared to other victims.