Institutional abuse deal ‘a blank cheque’

DEPARTMENT of Finance officials yesterday admitted that the deal struck between the Government and the Conference of Religious in Ireland (CORI) on compensation payments to victims of residential abuse was in effect a blank cheque.

The controversial deal, agreed by former education minister Michael Woods in the last hours of his term of office, meant that CORI’s 18 religious institutions were indemnified against abuse claims by paying the Government €127m in cash and property.

Estimated costs to the Government have varied wildly, up to a possible €1 billion.