Harney: Victims of abuse deserve to see prosecutions

Health Minister Mary Harney has said that the victims of child abuse at state-run institutions deserve to see the perpetrators brought to justice.

Ms Harney was speaking as pressure mounts on the Director of Public Prosecutions to bring criminal prosecutions against the religious orders named in the Ryan report.

The Taoiseach Brian Cowen is to meet the orders involved over the next week to discuss the extra compensation they intend to provide to the victims.