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	The European Court of Human Rights has found in favour of Cork woman Louise O&#39;Keeffe, who was seeking to have the State held liable for sexual abuse she suffered while a pupil of a primary school.</p>
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	Ms O&#39;Keeffe took the case to Europe after the Supreme Court ruled the State could not be held responsible because the national school in question had been run by an independent board at the time.</p>
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	Reacting to the ruling where judges voted by 11 to six, Ms O&#39;Keeffe said it was a victory for all children.</p>
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	Ms O&#39;Keeffe was nine years old when she was abused by teacher Leo Hickey at Dunderrow National School in Co Cork in 1973.</p>
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	Decades later, Hickey was charged with 386 criminal offences involving 21 former Dunderrow pupils.</p>
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	He was sentenced to three years in prison in 1998, after pleading guilty to 21 sample charges.</p>
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	Ms O&#39;Keeffe subsequently took legal action against the Department of Education, arguing that the State had failed to put in place appropriate protection measures to prevent and stop systematic sexual abuse at her school.</p>
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	However, the High Court dismissed her claim that the State was liable.</p>
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	The Supreme Court subsequently upheld that ruling, finding that while the State funded the education system, the management role of the Catholic Church was such that the State could not be held vicariously liable for the criminal acts of the teacher.</p>
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	The European Court of Human Rights was Ms O&#39;Keeffe&#39;s final legal opportunity to have the Irish State held liable for the sexual abuse she suffered.</p>
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	The ruling could have significant implications for other victims of abuse in Irish schools.</p>
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	Ms O&#39;Keeffe said today what drove her on for the last number of years was knowing that the Supreme Court was wrong and that no child should be abused in school.</p>
<p>
	Her solicitor Ernest Cantillon said a wrong had been done to Ms O&#39;Keeffe.</p>
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	Mr Cantillon said the State has 135 cases pending this judgment and they should be dealt with by the State as soon as possible.</p>
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	He also said Ms O&rsquo;Keeffe should not have to ask for an apology from the State. She should be given one, he said.</p>
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	<a href="http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0128/500568-louise-okeeffe/" style="font-size: 12px;">http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0128/500568-louise-okeeffe/</a></p>
