INSTITUTIONS and religious orders involved in historical sex abuse in schools will be “held accountable” for the “awful” crimes, the Education Minister has vowed.
The Government approved the establishment of a commission of investigation into allegations of historical sex abuse in schools across the country.
Mr Justice Michael McGrath will chair the commission.
Minister for Education Helen McEntee, who outlined the details of the commission of investigation, said that any redress scheme would have to be funded by the religious orders and organisations.
Speaking at Government Buildings on Tuesday, Ms McEntee said that more works needed to be done to establish exactly what is owned and in the possession of the religious orders.
The scoping inquiry found some 2,395 allegations of sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders, involving 884 alleged abusers in 308 schools across the country, between 1927 and 2013.
Most of the allegations were reported from the records of some 42 religious orders.
The commission will examine the handling of allegations, suspicions and concerns of sex abuse in schools, failure to treat concerns, causes and responsibility for such failure, failure to prevent harm, and the concealment of child sex abuse.
Ms McEntee said work is ongoing around how such a redress scheme would work, but said that it must be funded by religious orders and any other school organisations “involved in these awful crimes”.
The Fine Gael minister said it will take five years to complete, at a cost of tens of millions of euros.
She said the Government was examining a number of ways to make this happen, including making legislative change.
Ms McEntee said that any steps to secure or maximise payment for a redress scheme is being worked on by the Attorney General.
She explained: “It is important to stress that the preferred outcome here is that religious institutions and organisations would come forward.
“(The process) will be anonymised, and it will mean that every single person who wishes to come forward to tell their story, to tell what happened to them, in that non-adversarial way that they would be able to do so, and it will allow all survivors to do this.”
She added: “The work that is happening in parallel is further examination of the religious orders, what funds they have, what assets they have, what levers may be used by government to ensure that funding is provided by those religious groups and orders.”
MARCUS RASHFORD reported to Carrington for pre-season training on Monday and Tuesday – despite being told he could stay away.
Ruben Amorim decided last week that the England forward and four other first team stars would be given extra time off to find a new club.
And there was no sign of any of them as some of the Manchester United squad were put through their paces on the first two mornings.
But it is understood Rashford, 27, asked if he could go and work at the training ground in a bid to keep up his fitness.
United had made it clear any of the five – which also includes Jadon Sancho, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho and Tyrell Malacia – would still have access to the rehab and medical facilities.
So the Three Lions striker decided he would like to take up that opportunity.
On Monday morning, Amorim had welcomed several stars – including new £62.5 million signing Matheus Cunha – back to work after the summer break.
United insiders say it was agreed that Rashford would report to Carrington in the afternoon and was given full access to the performance support department.
And it was a similar story today when the forward again trained away from Amorim’s squad.
Sources close to Rashford had said on Friday that the former Aston Villa loanee was planning to report back with his team-mates and was ready to give 100 per cent.
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However hours later came the confirmation from the club that the five wantaway stars were being given time off to sort out their futures.
The long-serving ace is being monitored by both Barcelona and Bayern Munich during the transfer window.
A move to the Nou Camp would be a dream for him and his chances increased when Nico Williams turned down the Catalan giants to sign a new deal with Athletic Bilbao last week.
Amorim’s men will be working at their training ground for the next two weeks before embarking on a two week pre-season tour of the USA.
None of the five who have been banished from training are expected to be named in the squad to go on the three match trip.
Sources in Rashford’s camp have indicated he has not handed in a transfer request – but accepts it may be time for him to move on after two decades with the club.
AXED MasterChef host Gregg Wallace last night declared war on the BBC, raging: “I will not go quietly. I will not be cancelled for convenience.”
The 60-year-old star’s outburst came as the Beeb announced he had been sacked following an inquiry into alleged misconduct.
And the corporation turned up the heat by saying another 50 people had made claims about his behaviour across several shows.
They included new allegations he groped a MasterChef worker and pulled his trousers down in front of another.
Wallace, who left the hit cooking show in November and danced on 2014’s Strictly, denies the claims. Sources said he was considering suing the BBC.
And we can reveal that on Sunday he was rushed to hospital in Ashford, Kent, with a suspected heart attack after two days of agonising chest pains.
He told a pal: “The stress of this betrayal brought on my suspected heart attack. It’s been hell.”
The report into Wallace’s behaviour, ordered by production firm Banijay and conducted by external lawyers Lewis Silkin, is officially due out tomorrow.
But yesterday, two days after leaving hospital, Wallace was told his contract will be terminated.
He posted online: “After 21 years of loyal service to the BBC, I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others.”
He pointed out he had been exonerated of the most serious allegations in the Silkin report, including a separate claim of groping.
And he said: “I recognise that some of my humour and language, at times, was inappropriate.
“For that, I apologise without reservation. But I was never the caricature now being sold for clicks.”
The stress of this betrayal brought on my suspected heart attack. It’s been hell
Gregg Wallace
Wallace — who has never been publicly backed by co-host of 20 years John Torode — is now poised to take Banijay or the BBC to tribunal.
He has taken on “rottweiler” lawyer Dan Morrison, who represented Nigel Farage in the NatWest/Coutts bank account closure scandal.
In a further blow to the Beeb, Wallace’s lawyers could push for the release of the report’s executive summary, which might jeopardise senior MasterChef execs and talent.
An insider said: “This is war. Gregg is raging and, frankly, has nothing left to lose. He feels he has been hung out to dry. He was employed to play the fun, unfiltered cheeky chappy greengrocer and he played that role as he always pledged to do.
“He feels there’s been a cover-up and other people’s bad behaviour ignored.
“Gregg will not go quietly — it is an absolute nightmare for the BBC.”
The star’s mum died from a heart attack in March.
In April he revealed he had considered suicide.
In his statement yesterday he also claimed the BBC had failed to help him over neurodiversity, since formally diagnosed as autism.
He said: “Nothing was done to investigate my disability or protect me from what I now realise was a dangerous environment for over 20 years. That failure is now being quietly buried.”
A source added: “Gregg has been struggling with his mental health and was rushed to hospital over the weekend. Doctors have blamed stress, and he came out only to find out almost immediately he will lose his livelihood.
“He is furious and devastated and, after much deliberation, is taking on an incredibly bullish legal team to fight his corner. Gregg has seen the report and believes he is cleared of the most serious wrongdoing allegations, so has taken great consolation from that.”
After 21 years of loyal service to the BBC, I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others
Gregg Wallace
Banijay’s probe began nine months ago after BBC News revealed he faced 13 complaints from women, which later rose to 30.
Wallace was then vilified for saying they stemmed from “middle-class women of a certain age”.
EX-TELLY host Gregg Wallace issued a statement online yesterday. Here are key extracts.
“After 21 years of loyal service to the BBC, I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others.
I have now been cleared by the Silkins report of the most serious and sensational accusations made against me.
I recognise that some of my humour and language, at times, was inappropriate.
For that, I apologise without reservation. But I was never the caricature now being sold for clicks.
I was hired by the BBC and MasterChef as the cheeky greengrocer.
A real person with warmth, character, rough edges and all. For over two decades, that authenticity was part of the brand.
Now, in a sanitised world, that same personality is seen as a problem.
My neurodiversity, now formally diagnosed as autism, was suspected and discussed by colleagues across countless seasons of Master Chef.
Yet nothing was done to investigate my disability or protect me from what I now realise was a dangerous environment for over 20 years.
That failure is now being quietly buried.
Unfortunately, the full report will never be seen. I would like to know why? I will not go quietly.
I will not be cancelled for convenience.”
It is understood he has now been cleared of bullying allegations brought by 2021 contestant Penny Lancaster.
Broadcaster and 2011 series star Kirsty Wark’s evidence was discredited after investigators were told she had been “dining out” on telling stories about Wallace, including at the Edinburgh Festival last year.
The claims of Wallace’s constant innuendos, which left crew in tears, by 2011 contestant Jackie Kearney have also been thrown out, it is understood.
In two categories — “demeaning” nicknames for staff and Wallace being “direct” with contestants — investigators said his actions were unintentional.
Gregg has been struggling with his mental health and was rushed to hospital over the weekend. Doctors have blamed stress
A source
It is understood his autism diagnosis has been used to explain some behaviour.
Other allegations were upheld.
They included that he opened his dressing room door with a sock over his privates and shouted “Hooray.”
He was also found against in terms of inappropriate language and repetition of sexualised jokes.
The BBC is under enormous pressure to save money, and is unlikely to offer Wallace any payout or redundancy package.
He may get a six-figure payout from a tribunal in his favour.
GREGG Wallace has stepped down from his MasterChef hosting role after a probe into alleged inappropriate behaviour. But what’s the situation?
Regular MasterChef host Gregg Wallace is currently the subject of a probe after an investigation was launched into his alleged misconduct over a number of years.
Gregg has been accused of making sexual remarks to 13 colleagues including Beeb anchor Kirsty Wark – accusations he denies.
The 60-year-old has now stepped away from the BBC show while historical misconduct allegations against him are investigated.
Yet the former greengrocer spoke out on social media to blast the “women of a certain age” who he claimed were behind the allegations.
The cooking show’s production company, Banijay UK, has said law firm Lewis Silkin would lead the investigation into Wallace’s alleged misconduct.
FORMER Corrie star Katie McGlynn has put on a brave face after splitting from her Towie star boyfriend.
Katie, who split from Ricky Rayment earlier today, has stepped out at an event in London’s Crystal Palace Park while looking sensational.
The blonde beauty, who started dating former reality star Ricky after meeting on a cruise ship in 2023, decided to call time on their romance, despite sparking engagement rumours last February.
“Katie and Ricky have ended their romance, they’re still friends and want to remain civil but in terms of a romantic relationship, it’s definitely over,” a source told the MailOnline today.
They added that they found it “difficult” to maintain a long distance relationship, with Katie in Manchester and Ricky in Essex.
And now Katie has shown off her amazing figure and bright, beaming smile while at a festival-style event with a friend.
Katie could be seen rocking a dazzling silver sequin miniskirt complete with a black long-sleeved top that had a cut out section in the middle of her chest.
She completed the look with a cowboy hat, some sunglasses, a bumbag and some cowboy boots.
Flashing a huge grin, and the peace sign, Katie beamed for the camera.
“What a moment,” Katie penned in the caption of the photo dump she shared from the fun-filled day out.
She added: “Impromptu trip to London to see @rufusdusol live for the first time!!
“One of my all time fave artists. Amazing early birthday present @leeantonybennett.”
Commenting on the ultra glamorous snaps Katie shared, one person said: “Too hot to handle.”
Another wrote: “You look absolutely stunning & very glamourous.”
“What a woman,” swooned a third.
A fourth then wrote: “You look gorgeous. lovely pictures and video. Lovely outfit and hat.”
While a fifth said: “Fantastic legs Katie.”
And a sixth added: “Absolutely sensational.”
Last February, speculation started to mount that the former soap star and reality star were about to head down the aisle.
The rumours ran rampant after she was pictured with a sparkler on her ring finger.
It came after The Sun exclusively revealed Katie and TOWIE alum Ricky had been dating for four months, following a video emerging of them kissing in the street.
Speaking at the time, an onlooker suggested they very much seemed to be an item.
They said: “They very much looked like girlfriend and boyfriend. They were holding hands, having a laugh and even had a little kiss as they walked amongst other Saturday afternoon shoppers.”
UEFA are reportedly planning yet more changes to the Champions League – just a year after the implementation of the tournament’s new format.
The 2024/25 season marked the introduction of the new 36-team competition, which was formatted like an actual league.
Teams finishing in the top eight received a bye into the last 16 as seeded sides.
The following 16 teams competed in a knockout play-off round, in which the losers no longer had the safety net of dropping into the Europa League.
Teams finishing from 25th to 36th place missed out on the play-offs altogether and were dumped out of the tournament.
Footie fans worldwide are still getting to grips with the Swiss-system tournament format.
And they’ll reportedly have to wrap their heads around some additional changes to the competition.
According to reports, clubs finishing higher in the league stage will be guaranteed home advantage for the second leg of their last 16 tie.
The teams finishing first and second will retain home advantage in the semi-finals should they make it through.
The benefit of home advantage for the second leg will be transferred if a lower-ranked team beats a higher-ranked side.
By Dan King
UEFA sold the idea of expanding the Champions League from 32 to 36 teams, with each playing eight games instead of six in the opening phase, as a way of creating more competitiveness and excitement.
The biggest clubs would have two matches against their peers, rather than having to wait until the knockout stage to meet.
The smaller clubs would meet teams of a similar level twice and have a chance of tasting victory that was so hard to achieve if you were the bottom seed in a group of four.
Ignoring for a moment the fact that the real motivation was the simple equation of more games = more money, the theory itself already looks flawed.
None of the matches between European giants has delivered a compelling contest yet.
And why would they? At the start of the long season with more matches in it, why would any team with ambitions to win things in the spring, go out all guns blazing in the autumn?
Especially when they know they have six games NOT against big sides to make sure they accrue enough points to qualify at least for the play-off round (and even more games).
There is even less jeopardy than before.
Read the full column on the Champions League format fail and why everyone – including YOU – needs a rethink.
So if a side which seals qualification to the last 16 through the play-off dumps out the table-toppers, they’ll take their associated benefits.
With the new format, last season’s winners Paris Saint-Germain, who finished the league phase in 15th place, would’ve received all the benefits of finishing top of the table with their last-16 triumph over first-placed Liverpool.
Uefa are said to be implementing the changes, which have been reported by Calcio e Finanza, to give more value to and increase the stakes in the group stage.