Religious got good deal in abuse payout

RELIGIOUS orders negotiators admitted yesterday they got a good deal when the Government capped their contribution to the compensation scheme for victims of institutional abuse at just €127 million.

The final cost of the scheme could reach €1 billion with the taxpayer footing the overwhelming majority of the bill.

However, representatives of the Conference of Religious in Ireland were unable to shed any light on exactly why the Government caved in on its demands that the religious orders go 50:50 on the compensation payments and also granted a number of other concessions. The number of claims being dealt with by the Residential Institutions Redress Board has now hit 3,900 - twice the number originally anticipated by the State.

Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee yesterday, as it investigated the deal struck between the Department of Education and the 18 religious orders responsible for institutions, CORI’s Sr Elizabeth Maxwell said, during the early stages, the negotiations were fractious and they felt they were being treated shabbily by the State.

The tone changed in late 2001 when the orders were invited to meet with the then Minister for Education Michael Woods and all their demands were met.

Aside from the contributions cap, the Department also agreed to a total indemnity for the religious orders against any further action by abuse victims and other concessions on acceptance of property previously transferred to the State as part of the package.

“I can only attribute it to reflection on the part of the State negotiators. I cannot explain it,” she said.

Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte agreed: “Right, well, we can’t either.” Describing the dramatic change in the Government’s stance as a bolt out of the blue, Mr Rabbitte made reference to CORI’s Sr Helena O’Donoghue acceptance that the deal was a good one from the religious orders perspective.

“We are concerned about the exposure of the taxpayer. If you were negotiating for the taxpayer, they would have been in good hands.”

CORI’s Brother Kevin Mullen said the religious orders had estimated that dealing with all the compensation claims against them through the courts would cost between €50 million and €60 million and this guided their final contribution.

CORI did not deal with suggestions that the religious orders should revise their contribution to the compensation scheme.