Comment on abuse payments criticised

Comments that the proposed compensation payments to victims of institutional sexual and physical abuse would "label all religious as guilty" have been criticised by the Irish Survivors of Child Abuse Association.

The Government-supported compensation arrangement would see payments to physically abused victims who were resident in State institutions when the abuse took place. A payment scale exists for different abuses.

The assistant secretary-general of the Conference of Religious in Ireland (CORI), Brother Johnny Ceaser, reportedly said the payments plan "labels all religious as guilty". He said it seemed payments would be made "if you were in an institution," according to an Irish Catholic article.

Last night the co-ordinator for the survivors association, Mr John Kelly, said that according to the survivors "all the religious were guilty whether they abused or kept quiet about the abuse of others". Mr Kelly said members were reluctant as they are required to sign an agreement that these people will not face trial".