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A FESTERING administrative sore, involving the treatment of children who arrive in this State unaccompanied, has been laid bare by the Ombudsman for Children, Emily Logan. Individual aspects of her report, which catalogue the official neglect and adversarial treatment of young, vulnerable people, had surfaced from time to time. But they have now been compiled into a comprehensive and damning document.

During the past decade, the public has been shocked and angered by details of the physical and sexual abuse endured by Irish children in State-funded institutions and by clerical sexual abuse within the community. Under pressure, governments introduced legislative and other administrative changes to ensure that, insofar as it is possible, there will be no repetition. But some official agencies have not paid sufficient attention. Aspects of that old, hidden, repressive Ireland appear to be still alive and functioning.