Victims urge tough action against false sex abuse claims

A GROUP representing victims of clerical abuse has said it accepts that false abuse claims are being made "against some members of religious orders", and has called on congregations to "take strong action" against those making such claims.

The statement by the Alliance Victims Support Group is the first public written admission ever by a victim group that false or mistaken claims have been made against religious.

In its statement on its website (www.alliancesupport.org) Alliance goes on to say: "Where an injustice has been visited on individual members of religious congregations, the Alliance calls on all persons accused of misdemeanours they did not commit to take what action they deem necessary to expose these injustices."

Tom Hayes, the head of Alliance, told the Irish Independent that he has met "half a dozen" individuals, both religious and laity, who worked in Church-run residential institutions who say they have been falsely or wrongly accused of sexual abuse. He says he is "convinced after meeting them that what they are saying is true".

Mr Hayes said if the religious orders "do not take strong action to weed out and deter false claims, it may have the effect of casting into doubt those who make genuine claims. By taking such action they would be doing a favour both to themselves and to genuine victims".

Responding to Mr Hayes' call, a spokesman for the Christian Brothers said while it was up to individual Brothers to decide whether or not to take legal action against those making false claims, the order would support any who did so.

Br Edmund Garvey said: "At present we don't know of any Brother considering such action. This position cannot be regarded as absolute. The Order will not encourage any Brother to take such action, however it will support any member who does decide to take this course of legal action."

The statement by Alliance comes after the issue of false claims against members of religious orders was first brought to public attention by Let Our Voices Emerge (LOVE). This group represents those who had positive experiences of their time in Church-run institutions, and those who say they have been falsely accused of abuse.

David Quinn
Religious Affairs Correspondent