Henry McDonald, Ireland editor
The Observer,
Sunday April 27 2008
One of the founders of a group representing victims of Catholic clerical abuse vowed last night to defy a gagging order banning him from linking compensation payouts to sexual and physical assaults in Ireland's industrial schools and orphanages.
Patrick Walsh, of Irish Survivors of Child Abuse, said the ban imposed on all victims who are paid out of an estimated €1bn fund does not apply in countries outside the Irish Republic.
He compared any victim's attempt to link compensation to past abuse in a foreign jurisdiction to ex-MI5 agent Peter Wright using Australia to publish Spycatcher, which had been banned under the Official Secrets Act in the UK.
A number of abuse victims contacted The Observer last week after they had to sign forms promising not to talk publicly about the payouts they received or make any connection between the compensation and the abuse they suffered at the hands of the clergy. Some said they were now afraid to speak in case they faced criminal prosecutions in Ireland.
Pope Benedict XVI is expected to visit the Irish Republic next year. A number of victims'
organisations in Ireland, including Irish Soca, have threatened nationwide protests during his visit if the church refuses to organise a meeting between abuse survivors and the pontiff.Under the Redress Act, anyone who applies for compensation to the Redress Board and accepts an award for damages must agree to discontinue any further legal action.
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