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	Irish Nuns Offer 128 Million Euros to Abuse Victims AFP December 3, 2009 http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g2fEt53plha-noex1aUNxD8b7I1g DUBLIN — An Irish Catholic order of nuns who were strongly criticised in a report on child abuse said Thursday it will pay 128 million euros (193 million dollars) in damages. The Sisters of Mercy said the cash and property was "reparation for the suffering of children while in residential institutions within Mercy care". In deciding to make the contribution, the nuns said the order "attempted to be faithful to the values of reparation, reconciliation, healing and responsibility". "It is the sincere hope and desire of the congregation that this contribution will help towards the enhancement of the lives of former residents," they said in a statement. It is the second major payment in recent weeks from a religious order as the mainly Roman Catholic country reels from the shock of child abuse revelations. A report by Judge Sean Ryan in May found that sexual, physical and emotional abuse was widespread in Catholic-run schools, orphanages and other childcare institutions dating back to the 1930s. Another study last week revealed how archbishops in Dublin -- the country's biggest diocese -- covered up child abuse by priests for decades. The nuns said they were "deeply saddened" by the findings of the Ryan report and wholeheartedly regretted the "suffering experienced by the children" in their care. The Sisters of Mercy ran a number of schools indicted by Ryan, in particular the notorious Goldenbridge in Dublin. Ryan found a high level of severe corporal punishment in Goldenbridge and a "pervasive climate of fear". It said beatings were "a particularly cruel feature of the regime" and children were beaten and humiliated for bed-wetting. Last month the Christian Brothers offered a 161-million-euro package of cash and property following its "acceptance, shame and sorrow" at Ryan's findings. Prime Minister Brian Cowen met leaders of the orders responsible and told them of the country's "dismay and abhorrence". The Irish parliament unanimously called on the orders to pay compensation in addition to the 128-million-euro sum agreed in a controversial 2002 indemnity deal with the government. A government redress scheme has already paid out one billion euros in compensation and legal fees to over 13,000 victims.
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