Abusive religious orders in Ireland to be made to pay

Eighteen Catholic religious orders that were named in the Ryan report met the Irish Prime Minister, Brian Cowen, yesterday to reopen negotiations on increasing the amount they will pay to victims of the abuse they perpetrated. The compensation fund now stands at over €1.3 billion, but the religious orders responsible for the widespread abuse of children in Ireland have so far only agreed to pay €127 million. The Irish taxpayer is expected to pick up the rest.

Despite pleading poverty, investigations have made it is clear that the nuns and brothers have billions of euros-worth of carefully sheltered assets worldwide.