Just one of the 18 religious congregations which had been involved in running residential institutions in Ireland accepted an invitation from the Aislinn Centre to attend its Fetac ceremony in Dublin's Mansion House last night, writes Patsy McGarry, Religious Affairs Correspondent.
The centre helps people who were physically and/or sexually, and/or emotionally abused while children in such institutions.
Five congregations responded to the Aislinn invitation, with the Sisters of Mercy accepting. The De la Salle Brothers, the Rosminian congregation, the Our Lady of Charity Sisters and the Sisters of St Clare sent their regrets with explanations, while 13 others did not respond.
Forty-four people received certificates from the Further Education and Training Awards Council (Fetac) last night, presented by Dublin's Lord Mayor, Cllr Vincent Jackson.