THE Sisters of Mercy stressed yesterday their action in giving the names of former pupils willing to tell positive stories about the order's orphanages in the 1950s "did not in any way take away from the apology issued to those who had suffered hurt".
Sister Helena O'Donoghue, spokeswoman for the order, said: "We want to re echo our apology for the harsh regime that gave rise to hurt. If there are other people with stories of their situation they have a right to be heard."
She said there was no question of the order hiring a media consultant to present its point of view. It had not engaged anyone to counter recent publicity - this was something it did not wish to do.
It was not trying to "orchestrate" a certain approach and it repeated its apology to anyone who may have suffered in its orphanages.
She said there was a person in the media who had a family connection with the order. This person had recently advised them on how to get in touch with the press. However, this was very much in passing and she wanted to make clear they had no "media consultant".
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