‘Exclude Department of Education’

THE Department of Education should not be allowed to play any part in resourcing or the conduct of a re-vamped Laffoy Commission, a solicitor representing abuse victims said yesterday.

The overall responsibility for its running should be handed to another department, or better still the Attorney General’s office, said Kilkenny-based solicitor Michael Lanigan who is representing almost 150 victims of institutional abuse from the region.

Mr Lanigan’s comments came after the publication of Mrs Justice Laffoy’s letter of resignation over the weekend.

Her resignation has caused further despair among the many who have waited for years for justice, he said. “What I have said to all those who have contacted me is that we will continue to fight and at the end of the day, we are going to win. We are going to get them the justice which has been long delayed.”

The Fianna Fail representative on Kilkenny’s Borough Council said he does not yet believe he should resign his party seat over the matter. “I would not be the only voice within the party who has expressed dismay over what has happened. I can continue to make representations through the party and believe the party should wake up and look at what is happening here.”

The Department of Education and Science declined to comment. “We would not be in a position to comment on the likely outcome of the Review until it is completed,” said a spokeswoman.