Lawyers 'blacklisted by abuse groups'

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

Irish Survivors of Child Abuse (SOCA) yesterday expressed concern that survivor outreach centres in Britain have been encouraging former residents of orphanages and industrial schools in Ireland to only hire British solicitors.

SOCA's London-based spokesperson, Patrick Walsh, said such people could find themselves at a disadvantage when their case comes before the Residential Institutions Redress Board (RIRB) - the body established by the Government to compensate victims of institutional abuse.