Religious ‘stone-walled’ abuse inquiry

MS JUSTICE LAFFOY again criticises the majority of religious orders under investigation for their continued stone-walling of inquiries into allegations against members and institutions under their control.

She repeats an assertion first made in November 2002 that: “In the main and with few exceptions, the respondents have adopted an adversarial, defensive and legalistic approach in the process.”

“Insofar as respondents contend that they are co-operating with the committee, in practice, they are doing no more than complying with statutory obligations and doing so reluctantly in the case of some respondents, and under protest in the case of others.”