Lumping together the guilty and innocent in the aftermath of Ryan

On the face of it, the processions and programmes on radio and television and speeches in Leinster House were the outward and visible sign of a nation offering long-overdue vindication to thousands of abuse survivors.

The pity is that it was boiled into a vengeful soup

They were punished because they were an easily identified minority. They were punished because a generation projected evil on to them. They were punished because it was satisfying to have them in our power and to know there was not a thing they could do about it. They were punished because, in the punishing, we could convince ourselves we were righteous, fearless and dedicated to the greater good.