Religious orders given two weeks to divulge assets

THE 18 religious orders responsible for the worst abuses of children in residential institutions have been given two weeks to divulge the full extent of their wealth.

Representatives of all 18 attended a meeting with the Taoiseach and government ministers yesterday at which they agreed to make a fresh contribution towards the compensation and support of abuse survivors.

However, while the Government side said afterwards the orders had been asked for, and had agreed to, make a “substantial” additional contribution, the orders stopped short of indicating the scale of the payments they intended making.