Published: Friday, 19th February, 2010 6:00pm

Daingean Order to give €20m for its failings

by Tadhg Carey

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The Oblates of Mary Immaculate, which previously-operated Daingean Reformatory, has informed the Government that it will contribute a further €20m in redress for its failings at Daingean. In a statement, the order said: "The Oblates of Mary Immaculate have informed the Government of their decision to contribute a further sum of €20m in reparation for failings on their part while managing St Conleth's Reformatory in Daingean between 1940 and 1973.""This payment is also motivated by a desire to assist in alleviating the present needs of former pupils in St Conleth's who are in need of help," the order said.

The €20m is to come from "the realisation of financial assets over the next twelve months" and paid to an independent trust which the State proposed to establish so further financial and other supports could be provided to people who had been in the institutions as children.The €20m contribution together with previous payments made to the Faoiseach counselling service and towards awards made by the Redress Board amounts to a total in excess of €30m, the order said.

The order also confirmed it was not seeking to have its legal costs for appearing before the Ryan Commission paid by the State.

"As far back as 2003 the Order waived our legal entitlement to costs recoverable from applicants who had instituted legal proceedings to the Redress Board," it said.

Recent reports indicated that religious orders criticised in the Ryan report into child abuse were demanding tens of millions of euro in legal fees for appearing before the inquiry. It's believed the total legal bill for third parties could reach €80m.

The Sunday Tribune article also suggested that the final cash offer made by the religious orders to the State was in excess of €100m in cash along with major property transfers. As part of the controversial 2002 deal with the Government, €127m in cash and property was handed over in final settlement.

However, the cost of the final bill of the redress scheme to the State is expected to be more than €1bn.

In a letter to the Sunday Tribune, the Oblates also urged the Government to acted quickly to establish this independent trust.

"Given the age profile of many of the people whom this Trust will aim to assist, it should be established without further delay. It should quickly, effectively and transparently utilise resources to assist in alleviating the present needs of former residents of institutions, including St Conleth's, and take into consideration those living outside Ireland," the order's provincial leader Fr William Fitzpatrick said.