Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD has said that the government must ensure the Commission of Investigation into abuse at religious schools must be survivor-centred and focused on delivering full truth and justice for survivors.

Ms McDonald said that the terms of reference must be comprehensive and drafted in consultation with survivors and their representative organisations.

Teachta McDonald said:

“The scale of the abuse presented in the report of the Scoping Inquiry is horrific and heartbreaking. So many children were exposed to and experienced appalling sexual abuse, violence and trauma over decades. It represents not only a damning indictment of the religious orders, but a catastrophic failure of the state to protect children.

“The state has a duty to survivors to right this wrong. The Commission of Investigation must be survivor centred. We cannot see a repeat of the mistakes and failures that affected the Commission of Investigation into the Mother and Baby Homes.

“This must happen from the very start by getting the Terms of Reference right. Survivors and their representative organisation must be consulted in the drafting of the Terms of Reference. They must be comprehensive, thorough and ensure that the experience of every survivor is included and no survivor is left behind.

“Survivors have been powerfully sharing their stories and trauma with great courage and dignity. The abuse they suffered is not historical. They live with the terrible consequences to this very day and every day of their lives. The Commission of Investigation must deliver truth and justice for survivors.”