Victims like Inquiry proposals

PROPOSALS that Minister for Justice Michael McDowell will bring to the Cabinet tomorrow on how best to formally inquire into allegations of clerical child sex abuse would appear to be going generally in the right direction.

Essentially, the proposals will suggest an alternative to the tribunal format. The alternative will probably

consist of a system with statutory powers to inquire into allegations. Currently, the thinking is any new system will conduct an inquiry in private, have the powers to compel people to co-operate, and whoever heads it up will have the authority similar to those of a company inspector.