Madam, - In a report in your edition of March 8th, your Religious Affairs Correspondent, Patsy McGarry, incorrectly claims that "Ireland's Catholic bishops sought to have claims by altar boys against clergy included in the State's compensation scheme for victims of child abuse". At no stage was such an inclusion sought by the bishops.
In making representations to the Taoiseach and others, the bishops' primary concern was that there should be equity between the State's compensation of children abused in ordinary schools and children abused in residential institutions.
The internal Government report quoted by your correspondent apparently states that "it had been suggested that the scheme might be extended, e.g. to cover claims by altar boys against the clergy". It is not clear who made this observation, but there is certainly no evidence that the inclusion of altar boys in any compensation scheme was suggested, or indeed sought, by the bishops. - Yours, etc.,
Rev MARTIN CLARKE,
Director, Catholic
Communications Office,
Irish Bishops' Conference,
Maynooth,
Co Kildare.