Ireland failed to protect schoolgirl from abuse, European court finds

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland failed to protect a schoolgirl from sexual abuse by her teacher in the 1970s, the European Court of Human Rights ruled on Tuesday in a further blow to the reputation of the Catholic church.

The court ordered Ireland to pay compensation to Louise O'Keeffe, who had won her case in an Irish court against a lay teacher who abused her when she was nine, but had her claim that the state was vicariously liable for the 1973 assaults dismissed.