Scouting Ireland has issued an apology to victims and survivors of sexual abuse in scouting who were failed.

Adrian Tennant, chair of the board of Scouting Ireland said: "As chairperson of the Board of Scouting Ireland, as an adult volunteer and as a father, I wish to make an organisational apology to the victims and survivors of historical sexual abuse in Scouting who were failed.

“On behalf of Scouting Ireland, I unreservedly apologise to you.

"We are sorry for the hurt caused to you and the legacy of that hurt which many of you still live with today.

"We know we cannot take away that hurt. But we do want you to know that you have been heard.

"We want you to know that you are believed. We want you to know that we will support you.”

Scouting Ireland commissioned Ian Elliott to undertake an independent learning review into historical sexual abuse in the organisation.

His report - 'Historical Sexual Abuse in Scouting: A Learning Review' - has also been published.

"There was cover up"

Several people were interviewed and asked to examine their memories regarding their actions and the actions of others involved.

Where documentation exists, this was also read and assessed.

The report found: "Abuse did happen and was not responded to in a way that protected the young person or sought to hold the offender to account.

"There was cover up and there was a failure to report.

"The full extent of this cannot be determined exactly as records have been lost and destroyed.

"There appears to have been an almost complete absence of any concern for the young people that were abused.

"Where attempts were made to support them, this is poorly recorded."

The report found that a characteristic of the poor governance was the existence of a culture driven by "self-interest, with little attention paid to the young people involved."

It said: "Small cliques emerged and played too great a part in how the scouting bodies operated.

"Individuals who had a sexual interest in young people, rose to positions of power and influence on occasions and controlled any fledgling accountability processes, preventing known offenders from being removed from scouting."

It also found that cronyism "thrived and remained a significant problem" in scouting - up to and including Mr Elliott's involvement with the organisation.

"A very dark corner"

Scotuing Ireland has said the report is "accepted in full".

Mr Tennant said: "We pledge to adopt and deliver the learnings and recommendations of this report.

"It is a light pointing into a very dark corner but it is also a beacon for the standards, culture and structures we must have, and which must be resourced to ensure that Scouting is a safe place for young people”.

Anne Griffin, CEO of Scouting Ireland, said: "I want to assure all our members and the wider public that Scouting Ireland is a very different organisation today.

"Bad culture, as described in Mr Elliott’s Learning Review, thrives in poor structure and poor governance.

"Over the past three years we have implemented new governance and safeguarding structures which I believe, help us to stamp out any lingering elements of this damaging behaviour.

"I am determined to ensure that we continue this work so that we become an organisation that is the standard bearer for best in class safeguarding and governance".

The Scouting Ireland Helpline is open Monday to Friday 9.30am-5.00pm on freephone 1800-221-199 (or 00-353-87-0934-403 from Northern Ireland).