Christian Brothers reject charge
From the beginning the congregation welcomed the Laffoy Commission, expressed our willingness to support its work and consistently responded to its requests and deadlines for submissions. In fact, until the resignation of Ms Justice Laffoy, our submission of all documentation and responses to the commission were well ahead of agreed time schedules.
In addition, we have committed very significant resources of personnel, finance and professional service to achieve this end, which the commission acknowledges.
It is our contention that the legal rights of those accused to the presumption of innocence and to due legal process are inalienable.
So, too, are the legal rights and the human needs of survivors of abuse to speak their truth and to seek justice and closure. In these matters we are in full agreement.
There is no foundation for the accusation that the Church is "deliberately grinding down the investigation".
The further accusation that each case has been fought in a "highly adversarial approach" cannot be sustained.
The commission has heard a very small number of cases.
Specifically, no case of the Christian Brothers has yet been fully heard.
In the light of experience to date, it is wrong and unfair to speak of a "battery of legal representatives".
The scope of legal representation of accused people has, in fact, been determined not by religious orders but by the High Court in response to a ruling that was sought by the commission itself.
We note your observation that false perceptions will persist.
They will unless people responsible for communicating truth and fact do their homework carefully. Hearsay alone will not bring us to adequate understanding much less resolution of very complex and painful issues.
Bro Edmund Garvey,
Director of Communications,
Congregation of Christian Brothers,
274, North Circular Road,
Dublin 7.
