MORE than 500 former residents of institutions where children were abused have received educational grants to help them rebuild their lives.

THE first solicitor to be found guilty of overcharging child abuse victims for cases brought before the Residential Institutions Redress Board (RIRB) has been censured and fined a total of €5,000.

THE decision of the Law Society not to pursue a complaint of double billing against one of its members, in the case of a victim of child abuse who was made an award through the Residential Institutions Redress Board (RIRB), is very disturbing.

A DOZEN firms of solicitors are facing a formal disciplinary inquiry over allegations that they overcharged clients who received awards from the Residential Institutions Redress Board.

A LAST-MINUTE surge in compensation claims from survivors of institutional child abuse is expected to top 12,500 when the deadline for applications expires at midnight.

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.

Two victims of child abuse must have their cases addressed by the Residential Institutions Redress Board, it was claimed today.

GOVERNMENT-funded groups advising British-based survivors of institutional child abuse here have been accused of operating a blacklist of Irish solicitors.

EDUCATION Minister Mary Hanafin has said the legal profession was aware of - and had powers to fully investigate - complaints that members had overcharged claimants to the Residential Institutions Redress Board (RIRB) for many months before the issue hit the headlines last week.

AS the closing date draws closer for Residential Institutions Redress Board (RIRB) applications (December ‘05), the campaign for sourcing claimants is really stepping up, with victim support groups, solicitors and the Government extensively advertising in Ireland and abroad.

THE bill for compensating victims of abuse in State-run residential institutions could be €120 million more than the Government had first anticipated, the latest estimate shows.

A 57-year-old man on a hunger strike outside the Dáil warned today he will die on the street unless the Government listens to his protest.

THE appointment of senior counsel Sean Ryan as Justice Mary Laffoy’s replacement to chair the child abuse inquiry has received a mixed reaction from victim’s groups.

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