€1bn bill for abuse payouts rejected

THE Government yesterday rejected claims it had signed a secret deal with the Catholic Church over child sex abuse compensation that could cost the taxpayer up to €1 billion.

It also defended giving certain religious groups a blanket indemnity against future litigation from victims of child abuse in their residential care in return for a contribution of €124 million.

“There was nothing secret about the agreement, it was distributed to the media in June - it is impossible to speculate how much the compensation will cost the State because the hearings have not even started yet,” a Department of Education spokesman said.