Taoiseach holds first meeting with abuse victims

SURVIVORS of institutional child abuse held their first meeting with Taoiseach Brian Cowen last night in an attempt to strike a new atonement deal.

Mr Cowen reiterated an apology on behalf of the state and told them all citizens shared responsibility for a “failure to intervene, detect your pain or to come to your rescue”. Afterwards, Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe said it had been an opportunity for victims to outline their case in advance of more substantive discussions at a later date. He said it would inform the Taoiseach when he meets the respective congregations today to begin renegotiating a revised compensation scheme.

“We will indicate quite clearly the congregations should make a far more substantial contribution [to the redress package], on the basis that it was felt that on the last occasion that abuse was isolated when it is now evident from the Ryan Commission report the abuse was endemic,” he said.

Christine Buckley, spokeswoman for Aislinn, said the meeting in Government Buildings was a positive initial step.

“It was wonderful to see a united front of survivors and all of our issues which we were able to bring up were very much the same,” she said. Ms Buckley said the issues raised included the “paltry” compensation offered by the Redress Board, the board’s adversarial nature, the need for a national memorial and the establishment of a trust fund with representation of victims.

Aislinn put the figure of €10 billion to the Taoiseach as a more suitable compensation – instead of €1.3bn – split 50:50 between the state and the institutions. However, no specific commitments were made by the Government.

Twenty-three people from nine different advocate groups sat in on the meeting and were joined by the Taoiseach and ministers for health, education, justice and children.

John Kelly, from the Irish Survivors Of Child Abuse, said he was impressed by Mr Cowen’s openness and willingness to let all parties have an input.