Child abuse commission chairwoman resigns

The judge chairing a commission inquiring into child abuse has quit, 24 hours after the Government announced plans to change the body’s remit.

Ms Justice Mary Laffoy, a member of the High Court, gave no reason for her decision, which was announced on the commission website last night, and confirmed by the government’s Department of Education.

A Government spokesperson would not say whether the resignation had been expected.

Ms Justice Laffoy will go as soon as the commission – appointed by the Government to probe the effects of child abuse at all levels on its victims - submits a fresh review of its work to education minister Noel Dempsey in November.

No further meetings of the review are expected ahead of a full review of its procedures.

The move to change the remit of the commission was signalled last night by Mr Dempsey, who said that if the commission continued in its current form, it could take as long as 11 years to complete its work, with potential legal fees of up to €200m.

In a statement, he said substantial draft legislation was being prepared and would be published as soon as possible.

But he stressed the proposed amendments would not limit or reduce the power of the commission to investigate the responsibility of the state and various managerial authorities in the area of child abuse.

Mr Dempsey reported being told by one group representing victims that 11 of its members had died since the commission began its work.

The minister added: “The commission is performing a vital task in providing survivors of abuse with an opportunity to recount the abuse they have suffered, to inquire into the widespread abuse that occurred and to report to the public.

“However, there is a need for it to complete its work within a reasonable time. Justice delayed is justice denied and this is all the more important where you are dealing with people’s lives which have been blighted by past failures of the state.

“We are dealing with tragic circumstances where people simply want an opportunity to tell of their experiences and, in some cases, to inquire into abuse in the institution they were resident in."