Taoiseach’s indemnity deal betrays abuse victims

I AM disappointed that the Taoiseach has again refused to atone for the questionable indemnity deal he agreed with the Catholic Church.

It was scandalous to allow a fabulously wealthy ecclesiastical community to plead the béal bocht (poor mouth) to limit their liability, while leaving the taxpayer completely exposed.

If Mr Ahern really cared about the abuse victims, he would have stood by them, faced down the Church and demanded it hand over assets in return for the taxpayer compensating for the Church’s wickedness.

Instead, he protected the Church’s assets and screwed the gullible taxpayer.

How can Mr Ahern believe the Church is skint? Does he think we are stupid? What about all the schools the Church owns? Surely, they could have been given to the State in return for the State compensating the abuse victims.

Does the Church, or Mr Ahern, feel any guilt for forcing the taxpayer to pay for the Church’s wickedness, while allowing it to hang on to valuable properties that the taxpayer also pays to run? Of course, the Church would claim it can’t hand over the schools because they are held in trust to uphold the right of parents who want their children to receive a moral education in a school which shares their ethos.

Strange how these parents don’t appear to be bothered about their children receiving moral education from an ecclesiastical community with a track record of abusing children and covering it up.

It makes one shudder to think what standard of moral education is being taught in these schools.

Jason FitzHarris

Rivervalley

Swords

Co Dublin.