Taoiseach before Child Abuse Commission

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has told the Child Abuse Commission that the treatment of children in Irish industrial schools was unjustified.

Giving evidence to the commission this morning, Mr Ahern said these children were let down by the State.

He said that, once evidence of child abuse in state-owned institutions began to emerge in the 1990s, a sincere and long-overdue apology was necessary from the State.

He also said he felt the hurt of victims would not be eased unless the State also established a commission of inquiry and a generous redress scheme.

Speaking to reporters after his testimony, Mr Ahern said he hoped that abuse cases could be dealt with quickly.

“The work of the commission is going very well and I’m just glad to have been able to contribute towards explaining what was a central issue of this,” he said.

However, John Kelly from the Survivors of Child Abuse group said the abuse scandal would not be over until those responsible were brought before the courts.

"None of these people have ever had to face justice," he said. "The Taoiseach is apologising for the consequential pain, not for the crimes. These people should have been brought to justice and that should have been the very first thing on the agenda."