AG's advice to be sought on retaining abuse files

ADVICE WILL be sought from the Attorney General about reports that the Ryan commission is “leaning towards” the destruction of all documents used in preparing its report on child abuse in religious-run institutions.

Labour deputy leader Joan Burton raised the issue in the Dáil as the House agreed without debate an all-party motion in which the Dáil apologised to abuse victims for the failure to intervene.

A full debate on the Ryan report will take place when the Dáil returns after the local and European elections.

Referring to the report and its documents, Ms Burton said it would be an “appalling insult to the people who suffered in the various institutions” and would cause “unbelievable stress” to those who gave evidence, if the commission’s records were destroyed.

“The destruction of the Ryan commission is an issue of national importance.

She also called for the Government to clarify whether the criminal records of the inmates of the various religious institutions would be “fully exonerated”.

Minister for Health Mary Harney said the documents were a matter for the commission chairman Mr Justice Seán Ryan and there were issues of confidentiality. However she would speak to the Attorney General, the Government’s legal adviser, about whether the documents could be retained.

When Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin called for the Taoiseach to ensure full disclosure of all assets of religious institutions including those abroad, the Minister said Brian Cowen’s discussions next week with the representatives of the religious congregations and the victims of abuse would be “robust”.

The Dáil yesterday agreed the all-party Dáil motion which also accepted all the Ryan report’s recommendations and supported their implementation; recognised that supporting the victims and survivors had to be the priority and called for substantial contributions from the congregations with a trust to be set up and managed by the State for the support of victims.

A more substantive motion will be discussed by Government and Opposition for the two-day debate.

Ms Harney acknowledged the “all-party approach to the motion which is what the public would expect”.

She said the commission “laid bare the most horrific catalogue of the abuse of children ever in this State. Besides the appalling abuse, it has done incredible damage to the reputation of this country once again and our public would expect us all to come together on these issues.”

Fine Gael environment spokesman Phil Hogan, standing in for party leader Enda Kenny, said the all-party motion was “very important for this House – that we send one clear message that the crimes committed, that were outlined in this report – that those crimes are heinous and that they must be condemned by all sides of this House”.