Abuse claims by altar boys

Madam, - The headings above Patsy McGarry's report in your edition of October 2nd say: "Bishops wanted State to extend cover; …

Madam, - The headings above Patsy McGarry's report in your edition of October 2nd say: "Bishops wanted State to extend cover; Church wanted redress scheme for those abused in 'ordinary schools' and also altar boys".

Madam, - The headings above Patsy McGarry's report in your edition of October 2nd say: "Bishops wanted State to extend cover; Church wanted redress scheme for those abused in 'ordinary schools' and also altar boys".

As I stated explicitly in my letter to The Irish Times of March 18th, 2003, the Irish Catholic bishops never suggested nor sought the inclusion of claims by altar boys against clergy in the State's compensation scheme for victims of child abuse.

In making representations to the Taoiseach and others, the bishops' primary concern was that there should be equity between the State's compensation of children abused in ordinary schools and children abused in residential institutions. - Yours, etc.,

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Rev MARTIN CLARKE, Director, Catholic Communications Office,

Irish Bishops' Conference, Maynooth, Co Kildare.

Patsy McGarry writes: The report in question was based on a minute of a meeting in the Department of Education in February 2001.