€128m is plenty for 80 years of loving care

THE recent resignation of Ms Justice Laffoy has led to a good deal of political and newspaper controversy regarding the deal done with former minister Mr Woods and the religious orders regarding the abuse compensation fund.

Since the foundation of the State more than 80 years ago, successive governments appointed religious orders to care for orphaned children and those needing special care, and this care was lovingly given by thousands of members of religious orders.

The governments gave them trivial amounts of money towards the immense costs and efforts put into this work. A small percentage of these carers abused some of the children in their care.

So the €128 million agreed by the religious orders to pay the Government towards the cost of claims made by abuse victims is generous for 80 years of care by their members.

Pat Rabbitte is up on his high horse trying to make a big political issue of the matter.

Finbarr O’Brien,

Glenview House,

Tower,

Blarney,

Co Cork.