Appeals were made in the Dáil yesterday for the Minister for Education to intervene in the case of the abuse victim who has been on hunger strike outside Leinster House for the past three weeks. Marie O'Halloran reports
Mr Tom Sweeney has been protesting over his treatment by the Residential Institutions Redress Board (RIRB), after an initial settlement offer of €113,000, was reduced by €40,000 after he sought a full hearing about the abuse he suffered at two industrial schools in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Yesterday the Minister for Education met Mr Sweeney's local TDs in Dublin South-West but Green Party TD, Mr John Gormley and the Labour leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte called for Mr Dempsey to meet Mr Sweeney himself. The Minister for Defence, Mr Smith pointed out that the reason the redress board was established was "to take matters like this out of the political arena but the Minister for Education has agreed to meet deputies from the person's area." The Green Party leader, Mr Trevor Sargent asked if the Government was prepared for the "political fall-out" if Mr Sweeney died.
Mr Gormley (Dublin South-East) said there was an urgent need for the Minister to "agree immediately to meet Mr Sweeney before his condition worsens and his health is permanently affected". Mr Dempsey intervened and insisted however, that the Board was set up to be independent, the Opposition knew this and they had a "duty" to the legislation as well.
Senior clergy and Fianna Fáil politicians have already intervened, but talks stalled after an offer from the Department of the Taoiseach was rejected.
Mr Rabbitte asked were there "any plans to put forward a formula which will aid someone whose life, frankly is trickling away". He "has been badly treated all his life and no successful effort has yet been made to facilitate a resolution of his personal crisis".