Irish religious conference 'horrified' by contents of abuse report

Published: 2004-02-09

DUBLIN, Ireland (CNS) -- The Conference of Religious of Ireland said it was horrified by facts contained in the first published report of the Commission to Inquire Into Child Abuse. "We are horrified by the facts of the instances given and are saddened by the abuse of children in any way," said Jesuit Father Michael Drennan, conference secretary-general. "It is our strong hope that the investigation will proceed speedily and bring truth, justice and closure for all, especially for those who suffered through this sad part of our history," Father Drennan said. The report, by the commission's outgoing chairwoman, High Court Justice Mary Laffoy, contains the findings of the investigation into County Cork's Baltimore Fisheries School, where boys suffered serious physical and sexual abuse, hunger and neglect. The Baltimore investigation forms one chapter of a 14-chapter interim report. The commission, founded in 2000, was to have completed its investigations by 2002, but was granted an extension to complete its duties by 2005.

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