Ahern: Plot to ‘silence’ apology for State care abuse

FORMER Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has revealed efforts were made to silence his apology on behalf of the State to survivors of institutional child abuse.

Mr Ahern said people had put pressure on him because of legal and financial concerns not to say sorry when the apology was made nearly 10 years ago.

Speaking at an event for survivors of abuse yesterday, Mr Ahern said: “There was a reluctance to admit that as a state and as a society that we failed many of the children of a nation by allowing them to be incarcerated in places where they were not cherished but poorly treated.