The Sisters of Mercy are planning to take legal action in the High Court this morning against TV3 after it broadcast a programme last night claiming a woman in their care in the 1960s was physically and sexually abused.
They said the station breached the Radio and Television Act, 1988, by not being "fair and objective" and because it offered the order a totally inadequate right of reply to the allegations.
The order and the Dublin Archdiocese strongly rejected several claims by the woman of physical and sexual abuse in a Dublin industrial school. The order "totally and emphatically rejected" the woman's claim that she was raped by a priest in the school while being held down by a group of its nuns.
In a statement rejecting the programme's claims, the Dublin Archdiocese said: "The program me-makers offer no corroboration for the claims they present." It also said it had not been contacted by the Gardai in relation to the allegations and was not aware of any previous complaints about the institution featured.
"It is irresponsible for TV3 to screen untested allegations and we deplore the decision to broadcast this programme. This decision unjustly damages the reputations of priests. We owe it to them, their families, relatives, friends and colleagues to place these concerns on the record in the strongest possible terms."
TV3 said it stood by the programme, 20/20, which was produced by Louis Lentin and introduced by the psychiatrist Dr Anthony Clare. Dr Clare said he did the 90-second introduction after being asked by Mr Lentin. "I am not in a position to authenticate the woman's story, but I have seen the tapes and the material is obviously very distressing," he said.
The order said: "Many of the people who worked in the industrial school while the interviewee was a resident are still alive. They will be deeply hurt by this programme. They were not approached by TV3 or the programme-maker." TV3 denied this and said a right of reply was offered to the order but was declined. "We do not believe we are in violation of any legislation," said its spokesman.