State's 'cosy relationship with Church' must end

The Ferns Report into 40 years of child sex abuse must finally end the State’s cosy and deferential relationship with the Church, former Government Minister Liz O’Donnell told the Dáil today.

In an unprecedented attack on bishops and priests, Ms O’Donnell said she was appalled at the brutal scale of the abuse but marvelled at the human capacity of victims to heal and forgive.