February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Andrew Bushe
DUBLIN — The two-tier commission investigating physical and sexual abuse in childcare institutions over the last 60 years is to hear testimony from at least 1,238 alleged victims.
An interim report says that so far witnesses have approached it from not only within Ireland but also from the UK, U.S., Canada, Australia and continental European countries claiming they had suffered abuse.
There are 27 victims who have come forward from the U.S. and Canada to give evidence. Overall, 76 of those who have come forward are over the age of 70.
Those traveling from abroad can get travel and subsistence allowances to bring a companion or they can bring a professional counselor whose fee and expenses will be paid.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern established the commission last year, under High Court judge Mary Laffoy.
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In 1999, Ahern made an unprecedented apology to victims on behalf of the country and acknowledged that abuse in state-funded institutions had ruined the childhood of many.
The commission has set a time limit of the end of July for applications from further victims. It is hearing from adults who claim they suffered abuse as children in reform schools, orphanages, children’s homes and hospitals since 1940 and, if necessary, earlier.
The report says delays in agreeing on legal fees and a compensation program means the commission’s work will not be completed within the predicted two year time span.
The commission is critical of the Department of Education delays, describing them as "unnecessary and potentially damaging" to its credibility and independence. The compensation system has yet to be finalized.
"It is hoped that the parties who have complained about delay will cooperate in efforts to bring closure for all the parties affected to what is a difficult and traumatic element of our collective confrontation with the past," the commission said.
The commission said it has given priority to dealing with victims who have been deprived of information about their lost families and access to personal information about their childhood and facilitating tracing and reunion.
"Because of the age, state of health, level of educational attainment, vulnerability and emotional needs of persons who would benefit from such measures, there is an urgent need to address these matters," it said.
Many of the victims had reported abuses when they were children but were not believed. The Catholic Church ran most of the institutions at the center of the investigation.
Major inquiries by gardai into many of the institutions are ongoing. A number of religious orders have already apologized to victims.
A second "investigative" committee will fully probe the allegations, call witnesses and cross-examine those appearing before it.
After initial investigation of complaints, this committee can hold hearings in public.