Abuse victims and the State: who to blame

YOUR columnist Fergus Finlay (Irish Examiner, March 27) cited the case of a national school pupil who had been abused by her school principal.

He argued that as the teacher was paid by the State, he was a public servant. He complained that despite this, the State had argued successfully in court that it had no responsibility for this public servant.

Mr Finlay accused the State of setting about punishing the former pupil for daring to suggest it had some responsibility for the terrible things a public servant had done to her.