Court to rule next week on claim brought by man who PIRB will not compensate

The High Court will rule next week on a legal challenge brought by a man who claims he was abused in an industrial school against the Residential Institutions Redress Board's refusal to accept his application for compensation.

The board refused to accept the application on grounds that it was made too late. The man, now in his 70s, had been in St Patrick’s Industrial School at Upton in Cork for six years, where he claimed he was abused.

In High Court proceedings, the man claims the application should be allowed on grounds of exceptional circumstances.

He brought judicial review proceedings arising out of the Board's rejection last December of his application under the scheme set up in 2002.

The Board ruled no exceptional circumstances existed allowing his application to be considered.

The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is seeking orders from the court quashing the Board's refusal on grounds including it was irrational and a declaration his particular circumstances constitute exceptional circumstances.

He argues he had insufficient opportunity to submit his application on or before the deadline for applications to the board - December 15, 2005.

The Board has rejected the claims. Today Mr Justice Daniel O'Keeffe said he would give judgment next Wednesday.