An eerie silence fell over Dublin today as more than 5,000 men, women and children weaved through the city in solidarity with the victims of abuse in church-run institutions.

Organisers of a silent demonstration in memory of victims of clerical abuse in church-run institutions will leave children’s shoes piled at the Dáil railings following the march.

ONE of the country’s largest religious orders has pledged to make more funds available to help former residents of its residential institutions who were abused while in care.