Jersey Evening Post
on 2 September 2008 (page 7).
by Elaine Byrne
JERSEY must resist calls for a compensation tribunal into child abuse claims at all costs, says the author of a best-selling book on false allegations in Ireland.
Hermann Kelly who wrote Kathy's Real Story, which examines some of the accusations against religious people in both Ireland and Britain and the effects a €1bn Government compensation scheme, is urging the States of Jersey not to follow Ireland by setting up a financial redress board.
'As it stands, the Irish Redress Board has become a state-sponsored ATM machine, where virtually anybody who keys in a claim, gets a pay out,' he said.
'It is now the Irish taxpayer who is being abused by this ill-thought out compensation scheme.'
On Saturday three former residents of Jersey children's homes announced they are seeking redress through the courts for the alleged abuse they suffered while in care.
The Irish Redress Board's show that the average pay-out is €76,500 and it is estimated that the Redress Board will have paid out at least €1.1 billion euro by the time it has completed its work.
Mr Kelly who worked at the Irish Catholic for three and a half years says that all claims should be investigated by the police.
'There have already been a number of occasions when charges of abuse or sexual assault have been found without any basis whatsoever in Irish courts, yet the complainant, has gone on to make the same accusations against the same person at the Redress Board and received money.
'Researching for my book - 'Kathy's Real Story' I met a number of men who have been declared totally innocent in court who found that their accuser struck gold at the Redress Board for the same allegation - they were devastated of course.'
Mr Kelly said that he has sympathy for all those who were abused but said that it is important that the courts handle their cases to stop people making false allegations.
'In Ireland, there is no doubt that physical and sexual abuse of children and minors has been carried out in a very brutal manner by a number of people, including professed religious in residential institutions. I hold that those people who were abused should receive compensation, just as those who wickedly carried out abuse should be jailed for their criminal offences. But I hold this should be done via the courts where justice can be seen to be done for all.'
