A new grouping has called on the Government to remove the statute of limitations in all cases of childhood abuse. The Alliance for Healing of Institutional Abuse also wants survivors to have open access to their records. This afternoon, representatives of the alliance met the Taoiseach to discuss the proposed package for childhood abuse announced last month.
The announcement followed RTÉ's "States of Fear" documentary series, the government apologised on behalf of the state for the abuse that children had suffered in its institutions down the years. The Taoiseach promised a package of measures, including a commission of inquiry.
Today, a new group representing survivors of the abuse was established. They have nine demands, which they put to the Taoiseach at a meeting this afternoon. They want adequate counselling services, particularly in rural areas. They also call for the removal of statute of limitations in all cases of childhood abuse, and access to records. They say that all abuse should be treated equal to sexual abuse and call on the government to identify children who died in care and to erect a memorial to them.
They call for compensation for those who had been subjected to abuse and a register of sex offenders and an Ombudsman for children.
