Background to Irish Child Abuse Commission

On May 11, 1999, the Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern issued an apology on behalf of the State and its citizens to victims of child abuse.

The apology came after a long series of revelations from individuals who, as children, had suffered abuse while in the care of the State's institutions. The relevations covered a period that stretched from the foundation of the State in 1921 to the closure of the institutions, some of which were still open until the late 1980s.

These included orphanages; industrial schools; reformatory schools; hospitals; children's homes; day or boarding schools; and foster care homes. Many of these organisations were administered and run by the various religious orders of the Catholic Church.

The types of abuse suffered by children in Irish state institutions included physical injury; sexual abuse; emotional abuse; and neglect.

Since the Taoiseach's apology, the Irish Government has established two statutory bodies:

The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse is conducting a judicial investigation into child abuse claims.

The Residential Institutions Redress Board seeks to hear testimony from, and to make fair and reasonable financial awards to, the victims of child abuse.