The man who was yesterday awarded €370,000 by the High Court following physical and sexual abuse he suffered while an inmate at St Joseph's Industrial School, Co Kilkenny, during the 1970s has criticised the role of the State and the Sisters of Charity in his search for compensation.
Raymond Noctor said "all of these people, at every juncture until the 12th hour, endeavoured to ensure that I would be met with the most trenchant defence". He said in doing so they had "heaped insult on top of injury. I hope my case gives courage to others. . . to pursue High Court litigation".
Last night, the Sisters of Charity issued a public apology to Mr Noctor. "We are sincerely sorry for the hurt and suffering he has endured. . .We are appalled and upset at the hurt caused to Raymond because of David Murray's actions. The Sisters of Charity hope that today marks a new start for Raymond."
Meanwhile, the Aislinn Centre Association for the Healing of Institutional Abuse in Dublin has called on the Government to amend legislation so that survivors receive "fairness, equality and compensation in line with High Court figures". It criticised the Residential Institution Redress Board, scheme which cannot account for survivors' loss of earnings.
Christine Buckley of the Aislinn Centre said that unlike Mr Noctor, who chose the High Court route, victims who take a case under the Redress Act "are penalised if they divulge their awards to the media". "I congratulate Mr Noctor for his bravery and persistence in pursuing justice," she said.