Taoiseach accused of discouraging abuse claims

The Survivors of Child Abuse group has accused the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, of trying to discourage people who were abused in residential institutions from seeking compensation.

Earlier today, Mr Ahern said he hopes thousands of people don't seek compensation from the Residential Institutions Redress Board because it would cost the Exchequer a lot of money.

SOCA spokesman John Kelly described the comment as inappropriate and said the problem is not the number of potential claims but the deal the Government did with the religious institutions to make the taxpayer foot the majority of the compensation bill.

Mr Kelly predicted that at least 10,000 people will seek compensation for abuse at the hands of the religious orders in State-owned institutions.