Swimming group proposes chair for inquiry

The Irish Amateur Swimming Association has advised the Minister for Sport of the name of a solicitor it believes should chair the proposed independent inquiry into the Derry O'Rourke abuse case.

One solicitor, Mr David Coleman, has said his clients would not participate in the inquiry in its present form.

But lawyers for the victims and their families remain confident Dr McDaid will relent and grant a full judicial inquiry into the matter.

Despite the IASA's nomination for the inquiry as it now stands, it is understood the association's solicitors have indicated they have no major objections to a sworn inquiry. Legal representatives from both sides are expected to meet shortly to discuss such a development.

Meanwhile, before meeting the parents' group last night, a solicitor acting for them indicated she believed the Minister could change his mind and order a judicial inquiry.

Ms Anne Marie McCrystal said: "The Government doesn't seem to have ruled it out entirely. The Minister appears to be the one most opposed to it, but we feel he'll have to meet the needs of the individuals involved and we'd be hopeful of developments in that regard in the next few days."

Labour has backed the parents' demand for a judicial inquiry. "For the full truth to emerge, it is vital that the inquiry established will have power to compel witnesses to give evidence and to demand the full discovery of documents," said Mr Michael Ferris, the party's spokesman on sport

Mr Ferris added that a judicial inquiry could hold hearings in public. O'Rourke's victims had had the courage to detail the abuse they had suffered.

"It is right and proper that those who must account for the failure to curtail O'Rourke's crimes when they were brought to their attention now do likewise," Mr Ferris said.