Christian Brothers claim angers victims

VICTIM support groups bitterly clashed yesterday with the Christian Brothers after the religious order said claims of abuse in its institutions were exaggerated.

The One in Four organisation angrily accused the order of causing further hurt to people who had been sexually and physically abused.

Clinical director Therese Gaynor said yesterday’s statement represented a backward step and a return to the mindset of blanket denial which characterised the Christian Brothers’ approach to the issue of sexual abuse prior to 1999.