Academics urge withdrawal of abuse records legislation

Twenty archivists and information professionals at some of Ireland’s main universities have called for “the full and immediate withdrawal” of legislation seeking to seal millions of child abuse records for 75 years.

Twenty prominent archivists and information professionals at some of Ireland's main universities have called for "the full and immediate withdrawal" of legislation seeking to seal millions of child abuse records for 75 years.

In an open letter, the group - which includes staff at Trinity College archives, NUI Galway and UCD archives - describe the Retention of Records Bill as "unprecedented" in its aim to close access to records currently contained in the archives of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (the Ryan commission), and the Residential Institutions Redress Board and Review Committee for 75 years.