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The Minister of Justice Dermot Ahearn and the Christian Brothers have urged members of religious orders who abused children, physically and sexually, in their care, to come forward and confess these herendous crimes against children as young as 7 years old.

“Those accountable for such crimes – no matter how long ago – must also face the full rigours of the law,” said Mr Cowen.

The Ryan Report documented decades of abuse in institutions run by religious orders over six decades, however, admissions made in the Ryan Commission cannot be used by gardai as evidence. 

“If they have any conscience they should come forward now” said Ahern  “It should not be necessary in the light of those dark days for the authorities in the state to have to bring them kicking and screaming into the criminal justice system. I would appeal to them to hand themselves over”. “There are undoubtedly many out there who have not come before the courts, either because of lack of evidence, or shame or fear on the part of their victims to come forward and make a complaint. But these religious orders have a responsibility, even at this late stage, to their victims.” 

Ahern believes it is imperative that the perpetrators of child abuse face criminal trials to bring closure. He also wants victims of clerical abuse to contact a garda investigation team that has been set up to assess whether criminal charges can be laid against any of the 800 abusers whose activities were detailed in the Ryan report. The inquiry is being led by Derek Byrne, an assistant garda commissioner.

“Victims who up to nowhave been too frightened, ashamed or disillusioned to come forward and tell their story should make contact with the gardai,” said Ahern.

“I would also appeal to those who worked in or visited such institutions, who may have vital pieces of information on the evil which went on — even at this late stage — to provide that evidence. As time advances and the trail grows cold, it becomes more and more difficult, but not impossible, to sustain criminal charges in the courts against some predators.

“The burden of proof in court is rightly demanding. But I believe that some people, although not directly implicated in depraved acts, have vital pieces of evidence that can put those still at large behind bars. But more crucially, those harbouring dark secrets should finally come clean.”

Only a fraction of those who abused children have been prosecuted. Many suspects retained their right to silence when questioned by gardai during the 1980s and 1990s. Others sought judicial reviews against decisions by the director of public prosecutions to press charges, on the grounds that victims had taken too long to make formal complaints.

Meanwhile,the Christian Brothers have announced they will review how much more compensation they can offer to victims. The government is to insist on appointing professional auditors to check the assets of the 18 religious orders named in the Ryan report, which detailed abuse in Irish industrial schools, before any new reparation deal is reached with the congregations. 

Just one of the properties transferred from religious ownership to the state under the controversial 2002 indemnity deal for religious orders has been sold to raise cash to contribute to redress for child abuse victims. The orders have given, or are in the process of transferring, 63 properties to the state or to charities as part of the €128million deal for victim compensation.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen will this week meet Cori, the umbrella group for the religious orders, to discuss a further contribution from the orders. However, it is unclear whether this will be in property or cash, and whether it will go towards new compensation for victims or to reduce the state’s bill. Political sources say that the Taoiseach will await proposals from the religious, but it is not a ‘‘negotiation situation’’.