Department of Education under fire over abuse report

OPPOSITION parties and survivor groups last night demanded responsibility for the Child Abuse Commission be removed immediately from the Department of Education following a highly critical report on its role by the inquiry’s former chairperson.

Religious congregations, which ran former residential homes, were also criticised by Ms Justice Mary Laffoy for their general stone-walling attitude and its likely impact on the length and cost of the inquiry.

Ms Justice Laffoy announced her resignation last September amid claims the commission’s work was being hampered by the department’s attitude to the inquiry.