A local law firm has filed class action claims against government for physical abuse against students by members of the Irish Christian Brothers in schools throughout the province.

Lawyer Bob Buckingham says the lawsuits have been made possible by changes to legislation made in 2024 that removed the limitation period on cases involving physical abuse.

The cases involve schools where Irish Christian Brothers taught including Mount Cashel, St. Patrick’s Hall School, Brother Rice, St. Bon’s, St. Francis and Holy Cross.

He says before 2024, “if you were physically abused in schools, you could not file a claim. If you were sexually abused, then you could because there’s no limitation period. So we had a change in legislation back in 2024, and that has now permitted us to move ahead with the physical abuse claims.”

He says the claims are against the provincial government which ought to have acted on complaints made decades ago.

He says the cases “go way beyond” what was considered to be appropriate physical discipline at the time. “Government, in our position, is responsible for not pursuing good faith investigations through the police, and failing to act on the issues, failing to provide proper child welfare care for these kids…failing to warn parents, and failing to remove kids from dangerous situations.”

The proposed class action has not yet been certified by the Supreme Court of NL.