Austin Currie defends handling of sex-abuse allegations in the 1990s

Austin Currie, a former junior health minister, insists he acted appropriately in the handling of sex-abuse allegations in the 1990s.

Mr Currie and current Finance Minister Michael Noonan are under fire after it emerged that they knew of sex-abuse allegations in relation to a Waterford foster home in 1995.

Mr Noonan has refused to respond to claims he “did a runner” from abuse victims at Fine Gael’s 1997 ard fheis. “Minister Noonan has no additional information other than was provided at that time,” said a spokesman.