Abuse scandal - Rationale of Church deal not explained

THE Taoiseach can be well satisfied with the generally positive response of abuse victims to his appearance at the Commission on Child Abuse.

Their reaction is a litmus test of the candour of the State’s apology in 1999 for the collective failure to protect those entrusted to its care. Thousands of vulnerable children were exposed to a shocking chapter of abuse in one of the worst scandals to best this country.

There is intense public interest in what the Taoiseach had to say on this contentious issue. It was good to hear him spell out how struck he was by “the genuine hurt and suffering” of victims abused in industrial schools.

As Mr Ahern said, he feels a “deep personal sorrow” at the abuse of any child. He realised the hurt could not be removed unless the State said sorry and took the unusual step of issuing a “public and wholehearted” apology.

Yet, many will feel disappointed he did not explain the rationale behind his Government’s pre-election deal with the religious orders whose members inflicted a terrible toll of physical and sexual abuse on innocent children.

An agreement struck between Church representatives and former Education Minister Michael Woods limited their liability to €128 million.

In contrast, the taxpayer will have to pay the lion’s share of compensation.

There can be no doubt Mr Ahern was speaking from the heart when he said the true test of a democracy was how it treated its weakest members.

Unfortunately, as far as his Government goes, and as people on the margins of Irish society will affirm, that principle is more honoured in the breach than the observance.