The Commission investigating institutional child abuse has sought a three-year extension. The extension is being sought because of the numbers of people seeking to give evidence.
In an interim report, the Laffoy Commission said that its caseload had doubled in recent months. The Commission was set up two years ago to investigate child abuse in state run institutions.
The second interim report issued today shows its caseload has doubled to over 3,000. It was due to finish by May next year but its now expected to run for an extra three years until 2005.
The Commission has two branches. Its confidential committee is dealing with just over 1,000, double the amount since it last reported in May. The numbers dealing with its investigation committee have almost trebled to just under 2,000 in recent months. About half the complainants are over 50 years old and almost a third live outside the State.
The age profile of complainants and their alleged abusers means the committee must press on with its work. The Commission has also begun an investigation into vaccine trials carried out on babies and children in institutions in the 1960s and 70s. Public hearings on that issue are due to start in April next year.
