Church Look To Recover Ryan Report Costs

The Catholic church has applied for reimbursement of their legal costs incurred during the Ryan Report investigation, it has emerged.

A range of religious orders were criticised in the shocking Ryan report, which detailed a long history of child abuse by clerics in Catholic run institutions.

However, it has been revealed today that the church is now demanding tens of millions of euro in legal fees for appearing before the inquiry.

The orders are believed to be reaching a final agreement with the government on the issue of additional contributions to victims, which are expected to come to €100million in cash reparations and the surrendering of properties.

But despite the ongoing victims settlement cases, the Sunday Tribune revealed today that the Department of Finance had been notified the religious orders involved have applied to have their massive legal bills arising from the Ryan inquiry covered by the taxpayer.

It is estimated their legal costs could exceed €40m.

Speaking on the revelations, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said that just because it was legally possible for the church to claim back its legal fees, it did not make it "morally justifiable".

Mr Kenny said: "If these reports are correct and the religious orders are seeking substantial legal costs from the Ryan Commission it is truly astonishing."

The news comes as survivors of incidences of clerical child abuse prepare to meet with Catholic bishops in Co Kildare this lunchtime.

Senior church figures are travelling to Rome this weekend to discuss the fallout from the Ryan report into abuse at religious run institutions.

Some of the victims have called for an audience with Pope Benedict XVI and insist he cannot decide how to move forward until he hears from them directly.

(DW/GK)