Ahern apology on behalf of State to abuse victims ‘momentous’

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern’s apology, on behalf of the State, to people abused as children in institutions “was a momentous step - something unbelievable for all of us,” former Artane Boys’ School inmate Mick Waters told the Child Abuse Commission yesterday.

“It was a great feeling to have a leader of a country stand up and turn around and give that apology. It was something that was never done before and I don’t know that it will ever be done again.

“But for the Taoiseach to stand up and issue that apology was a momentous step. It was just something unbelievable. Who would ever have thought, in the early days when we were putting in the work, we would have had a day as good as that day? Again, that gave people hope, that encouraged people and many of them, who were very old or ill could turn and say ‘we’re being believed,’” said Mr Waters.