HELPLINES are reporting a surge in victims of abuse from religious-run day schools contacting them in the wake of the damning Ryan report as well appeals for help in progressing prosecutions against abusers.

Religious orders responsible for decades of shocking child abuse tonight defied the country’s most senior Catholic clerics, rejecting calls to reopen talks on a capped victims’ compensation scheme.

THERE has been a massive surge in first-time callers as helplines and support groups have been overwhelmed with calls for help from abuse victims since the damning report on religious-run schools was published.

THE support group One in Four has vowed to continue assisting victims of sexual abuse despite a 24% cut in funding.