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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
John Kierans

Government left €235.6 million short of redress by religious orders in whose care children were abused

The Government has been left a staggering €235.6 million short of compensation by the religious orders in whose care children were abused.

It had been promised €352.6 million by the 18 different Catholic Church institutions after evil and violent nuns, priests and Christian Brothers were exposed by the 2009 Commission of Investigation into the scandal.

The Ryan Report revealed how thousands of Irish children were mistreated and abused by members of the clergy.

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But the State has confirmed only €117 million has been paid to date - €235.6 million short of what the church bodies agreed to.

Now the Education Minister Norma Foley has admitted the Government might not receive anywhere near the original figure pledged.

She told Sinn Fein’s Eoin O Broin in response to a written Dail question: "The offers made in the aftermath of the Ryan Report included cash, properties and contributions in kind and were valued at €352.6 million.

"To date contributions amounting to approximately €117 million have been received.

"When account is taken of offers not accepted, changes in the valuation of the properties offered and the value of properties offered but not being reckoned as a contribution, the total value of the voluntary offers achievable may be lower than the amount offered.

"Cash contributions of approximately €111.53 million have been received from the congregations."

The biggest cash contribution was €30 million by the Christian Brothers, followed by the Sisters of Mercy who also ran schools all over Ireland and have paid €25.9 million to date.

The Oblates of Mary Immaculate were the third biggest contributor after paying out €20 million.

The Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul paid out €10 million, the Dominican Order €6.5m, the Presentation Brothers €4.6m, the Presentation Sisters €4m, the Sisters of Charity €2m, Sisters of Our Lady of Charity €1.5m, Brothers of Charity €1.5m, Daughter of the Heart of Mary €1.5m, De La Salle Brothers €1m, Sisters of St Clare €1m, Hospitaller Order of St John of God €1m and Sisters of St Louis €1m.

It is understood one further cash contribution is outstanding under the 2009 deal from a disposal of a property by the Sisters of Mercy.

The religious previously paid €125 million out of €128 millon promised in a separate 2002 indemnity agreement with the Government over child sex abuse.

The State has paid the compensation to the vast majority of the victims.

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