Group afraid inquiry into sexual abuse at religious-run schools may delay redress and justice

The advocacy group Restore Together said it is already "fully accepted" by the Spiritan order and other religious orders that widespread abuse took place over a long timeframe affecting hundreds of children. File picture: Brian Lawless

A group representing survivors of sexual abuse at religious-run schools has raised concerns that the establishment of an inquiry could delay both redress and justice.

In light of the Cabinet decision to begin the process of setting up an inquiry, the advocacy group Restore Together has written to Education Minister Norma Foley expressing its "real concern" that any statutory inquiry into sexual abuse of children at schools could result in "yet further delays to urgently needed justice and redress for victims/survivors whose suffering continues daily, decades after they were abused".