Solidarity book for abuse victims

Widespread abuse at Catholic institutions was documented

Dublin's lord mayor has opened a book of solidarity for the victims of abuse by the religious orders.

Meanwhile, the orders are coming under pressure to increase their contribution to compensation made to the victims.

Lord Mayor Eibhlin Byrne said she had been approached throughout the city by people wishing to express solidarity with those who had suffered abuse.

A report on abuse of children in Catholic institutions in the Irish Republic was published on Wednesday.

It found that church leaders knew that sexual abuse was "endemic" in boys' institutions.

It also found physical and emotional abuse and neglect were features of institutions and schools were run "in a severe, regimented manner that imposed unreasonable and oppressive discipline on children and even on staff".

The nine-year inquiry investigated a 60-year period.

More than 2,000 people told the Commission to Inquire Into Child Abuse they suffered physical and sexual abuse as children in the institutions.

In the last days of the 2002 Irish government, the religious orders agreed to pay 128m euros in compensation for abuse, but the final bill to the Irish taxpayer is likely to be 10 times that

Government ministers and opposition parties are now calling on them to make a greater contribution towards the compensation of victims.

The environment minister, John Gormley of the Green Party, said the orders have a moral obligation to contribute more.