Survivors of child abuse appealed 47 decisions by the body established to oversee requests for assistance from the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund last year.

Twenty of the world’s biggest banks have paid more than $235bn (€213bn) in fines and compensation in the last seven years for a litany of misdeeds that has scarred the industry and is delaying its rehabilitation.

The way has been cleared for a woman who suffered institutional abuse to make a late claim for redress following the Supreme Court’s finding in favour of her challenge.

The child abuse redress guidelines could frame the work of any scheme drawn up for the Magdalene Laundries women, writes investigative correspondent Conor Ryan

For decades survivors of horrific abuse at our industrial schools have essentially been demeaned as ingrates, because they did not appreciate what the religious authorities running those schools did for them. All that many were asking for was the right to be heard and listened to when they spoke about their abuse.

A NUMBER of religious orders have yet to submit details of extra contributions they propose making towards compensation for institutional child abuse victims.

MANY people felt a deep sense of betrayal over the disclosure that Bishop Eamon Casey had fathered a son, but in the last analysis what was betrayed was their own sense of innocence.

THOSE who may have suffered abuse in orphanages and industrial schools in Ireland have been advised that it may not be too late to apply for compensation.

The Supreme court has turned down an application by a former resident of an industrial School who during the 1960's was raped by her step-grandfather for leave to legally challenge the decision not to award her redress for the attacks.

ABOUT 150 applications for compensation by women damaged by disgraced obstetrician Dr Michael Neary have been made to the state’s redress scheme through support group Patient Focus.

Legal costs for applications to the Residential Institutions Redress Board are likely to top €200m.

LAWYERS acting for victims of abuse in institutional schools came under fire last night for creaming off €29m in legal fees from the Redress Board.

SOLICITORS may face criminal charges if found guilty of misconduct following allegations that abuse victims were overcharged during personal injury claims.

Claire O’Sullivan

FOR hundreds of victims of abuse by members of religious orders, the review of the work of the commission investigating their appalling experiences brings a glimmer of hope that this sordid chapter of Irish life may finally be moving towards closure.

AS many as 1,500 victims of institutional abuse are preparing to flood the High Court with compensation claims in a last ditch effort to get justice, a lobby group for survivors claims.

PLANS to extend the list of institutions covered by the Residential Institutions Act will increase the State’s liability under the compensation scheme beyond the current estimate of €1.5 billion, child abuse survivors have warned.

EDUCATION Minister Noel Dempsey last night denied that the religious orders were contributing less than 30 million in hard cash to the compensation fund for abuse victims.

RELIGIOUS orders will put up just €41 million in cash for compensation to institutional abuse victims — which could cost up to €1 billion.

THERE has been a huge response to an advertising campaign urging victims of institutional abuse to make contact with a redress board set up to assess their compensation claims.