IRELAND
News 24
17/12/2005 10:40 - (SA)
Dublin - An Irish government body said on Friday it had received claims from nearly 15 000 people seeking compensation for abuse suffered in child care institutions, most of them run by the Roman Catholic church.
The Residential Institutions Redress Board (RIRB) said it had received a total of 14 768 application by a deadline on Thursday, and the final cost to the Irish taxpayer could exceed €1bn.
Education Minister Mary Hanafin told parliament earlier this week that the board had processed about 4 500 applications up to December 9 and paid out €332m in awards.
The applicants say they were abused in institutions that were funded by the state but mainly run by the Roman Catholic church.