Youth website SpunOut.ie has today called on artists performing as part of Arthur’s Day to donate their fees to charities tackling alcohol-related harm.

Drug debts are leading to suicides in parts of Dublin amid warnings that increased use of cannabis weed has led to some young people owing thousands of euro.

Cardinal Seán Brady is the latest in a line of cardinals across the world facing criticism from clerical sex abuse victims for being allowed to vote for the next Pope.

The Irish Refugee Council has said it is awaiting legal advice as to whether children in the asylum system are included under the wording of the upcoming referendum on children’s rights.

The leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland is ignoring growing calls for his resignation following failure to contact parents, gardaí, or child protection services after he was warned that five children were being abused by the notorious paedophile, Fr Brendan Smyth.

IRELAND is in the grip of a “heroin epidemic”, while alcohol abuse among the young is leading them towards drug use, two youth support organisations warned yesterday.

Children’s Minister Barry Andrews today insisted Irish people no longer have the deference towards the Catholic Church that allowed institutional child abuse to thrive for decades.

VICTIMS of institutional abuse want the Government’s action plan in response to the Ryan report, to be published tomorrow, to include more frequent inspections of children in care and a national child care policy to be established.

The Aislinn Centre says the number of adolescents seeking treatment for alcohol and drug addiction is on the rise.

AS director of the Aislinn Centre, a drink and drug-free rehabilitation centre for 15- to 21-year-olds in Co Kilkenny, I support the call by Dr Conor Farren (Irish Examiner, July 14) for the drinks industry to commit a proportion of its profits to research and treatment for people with alcohol dependency problems.

Parents who fail to keep tabs on the alcohol in their home could be fuelling their children’s drinking habits, it was claimed today.

Nine-in-10 people believe there is an alcohol abuse problem amongst Irish teenagers, according to a survey carried out for the Aislinn Centre.

VICTIMS of abuse in a number of residential institutions could miss out on compensation because the Government is insisting there is no evidence some facilities were State-controlled.

Niall Murray and John Breslin talk to former St Joseph’s students who believe Robert Howard could have been abused.

NO records have been found to show the forms of punishment young offenders received for breaching discipline at Daingean reformatory school in Co Offaly, the Child Abuse Commission heard yesterday.

CHILDREN inflicted most of the sex abuse on other children living in State-funded institutions, voluntary support worker Tom Hayes told the Child Abuse Commission yesterday.

SURVIVORS of institutional abuse yesterday backed calls to reopen the controversial deal indemnifying religious orders from claims by victims.

OVER €20 million of taxpayers’ money has been spent funding organisations set up to help those who suffered abuse in residential institutions.

VICTIM support groups bitterly clashed yesterday with the Christian Brothers after the religious order said claims of abuse in its institutions were exaggerated.

SEMINARS are to be held in the United States to track down potentially thousands of American-based Irish people who may be eligible for compensation and other benefits as victims of abuse in orphanages and other State institutions.

Political Reporter

SURVIVORS of institutional abuse last night attacked the Government and religious groups for setting out ‘paltry’ compensation levels for those who suffered in care throughout their childhood and teenage years.

A centre which assists victims of abuse has accused the Laffoy Commission of serving the interests of the institutions it is supposed to be investigating.

SUPPORT groups representing victims of institutional abuse want a €10,000 interim compensation payment to be made to survivors over the age of 50.

WITH growing suicide rates among child abuse victims, support groups are planning widespread protests if the work of a long-awaited compensation board fails to get underway next month.

ALMOST 2,000 adults sought help from the first national counselling service for victims of child abuse.