Ferns fallout: Ahern moves to set up national audit of clerical sex abuse

A NATIONAL audit of child sex abuse by priests is likely to be carried out following the findings of the Ferns Report, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said yesterday.

Speaking in the Dáil, Mr Ahern said the Government would wait for the findings of the inquiry into allegations of child sexual abuse by priests in Dublin before deciding on the practicalities of a national audit.

Mr Ahern made his comments as Justice Minister Michael McDowell outlined his plans to implement the recommendations of the Ferns Report.

Discussions between his department and the Civil Legal Aid Board also began yesterday on changing laws relating to the provision of legal aid for both parties in cases of sexual abuse where the criminal justice avenue had been closed off.

Mr Ahern said the impending Commission of Investigation in Dublin would have to be completed before looking at the possibility of a national audit.

“We should just try to deal with Dublin and then see how best we proceed into a national audit or some means of investigation,” he said.

“We haven’t worked out how to best do that but we will do that and the Attorney General has been examining this issue.”

It is understood Mr McDowell will bring proposals to Cabinet relating to the Dublin-based Commission of Investigation in the coming weeks.

An audit of child protection measures in each diocese in the country is also being considered.

Minister for Children Brian Lenihan will communicate with the Irish Bishops’ Conference before the Government’s decision on the scope of the audit.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio One yesterday, Mr McDowell said he was looking at ways of implementing the various recommendations of the Ferns Report, including opening up legal aid in civil cases to both sides.

He said he did not want to fund “nuisance or vexatious litigation”, but wanted to guard against a situation where a person, after the criminal process had been ruled out following a garda investigation, would be “left high and dry by the legal system”.

Civil Legal Aid Board director Frank Brady said discussions with the Justice Department had begun on Tuesday and the implications would become clear “within the next few days”.

He said a number of options were under discussion, including the lifting of the means-test restrictions applying to sexual abuse cases and the extent to which the State wishes people to have access to the courts to pursue such actions.

“Discussions have started and we are looking seriously at what the implications of this would be and how best to achieve the objectives set out in the report,” he said.

“You can do it in a number of ways. You can lift the means-test restrictions that apply at present.

“The other thing is to what extent does the State want persons to have access to court - should you continue to have some kind of ‘merit test’ in relation to the provision of legal aid?”

Mr Brady said he did not expect a deluge of new cases because of the recommendations, a view backed by the One in Four group.

The Law Society also said it supported the recommendations.