GARDAI are to investigate allegations of past abuse of children at Goldenbridge orphanage in Dublin run by the Sisters of Mercy, a Garda spokesman confirmed yesterday. The orphanage was the subject of an RTE programme last week.
The order says it will co operate fully with the investigation. It placed advertisements in Sunday newspapers expressing "deep regret to those individuals who, at any time or place in our care, were hurt or harshly treated".
Ms Ronit Lentin, the wife of the programme's producer, Mr Louis Lentin, said that she received five abusive phone calls on Friday. The callers, all men, said the programme was anti Catholic. They asked her if circumcision was not a form of child torture. Both she and Mr Lentin are Jewish.
Sister Helena O'Donoghue, provincial of the congregation, was approached by hostile members of the Pat Kenny Show audience after appearing on the programme.
A confidential helpline has been set up by the congregation on 1800800-123.