The Aislinn Survivors group, which represents some victims of abuse in residential insitutions, has accused the Laffoy Commission of inviting evidence from people who were "treated as pets" in the institutions. It follows advertisements in the weekend papers, placed by the Commission, which asked people to come forward who had a positive experience in Our Lady of Succour Industrial School, Newtownforbes, Co. Longford.
The group said the advertisement failed "to invite victims who encountered negative experiences to come forward. The same advertisement also invites those who worked in the institution or who had any professional dealings with the institution to come forward. The fact that this second invitation appears in the context of the first, does not encourage other third parties who may have had more critical contributions to make to the investigation."
It further said "a representative of the Commission has indicated that similar advertisements requesting survivors with positive stories to come forward will be adopted in relation to other institutions".
It pointed out that "under the terms of the Commission there is no remit to invite survivors who were treated as pets in these institutions over the majority who were treated otherwise. Requests to the Commission to explain these new practices have not received a response."
They have requested a public sitting of the Laffoy Commission to address these matters.