Madam, - We found a lack of balance in the views expressed (October 7th, 8th and 9th) by your columnists Fintan O'Toole, Vincent Browne and Kevin Myers in relation to the compensation scheme agreed between the Government and 18 religious congregations. For example - no consideration was given by them to the important and valid points made by fellow columnists Breda O'Brien and John Waters (October 4th and 6th). The latter and Mrs Kathy Sinnott of the Hope Project (Letters, October 3rd) believe that the primary responsibility for what happened in institutions run by religious was that of the State.
The community, its public representatives and the judiciary found it convenient to burden religious institutions with difficult problems relating to infants and children. The State was responsible for the totally inadequate funding and supervision of these institutions and for the failure to provide appropriate training for the personnel running them. Abuse occurred in some of these institutions and we are not suggesting that the religious be exempted from blame.
In fairness it must be remembered that most of the religious, in difficult circumstances, dedicated their lives generously and selflessly to the children put in their charge.
According to Mrs Florence Horsman Hogan, "the carers were many and the abusers were few" (Letters July 19th). More recently, she and others who were in care in various residential institutions have formed a group named "Let Our Voices Emerge" to support of those religious.
In general, we have found the coverage of this issue in the print and electronic media and by some public representative both unbalanced and unfair. - Yours, etc.,
IVO O'SULLIVAN, Chairperson, Family and Media Association, Blackrock, Co Dublin.