Christian Brothers: “We understand and regret that nothing we say or do can turn back the clock for those affected by abuse”.

Irish Independent
By John Walshe
Wednesday November 25 2009


In their statement last night, they said they proposed to:

* Make a donation of €30m to an independent trust established by the Government to respond to the direct educational, welfare and medical needs of former residents.


* Contribute €4m over the next five years to support counsellor and therapeutic services such as Faoiseamh.


* Transfer €127m worth of playing fields and lands to a separate independent trust.

“Our fervent hope is that the initiatives proposed will assist in the provision of support services to former residents of the institutions as well as the facilities, resources and scope to protect, cherish and educate present and future generations of children,” they said on their website www.christianbrothers.eu, which also gives details of their assets and liabilities.

It shows assets at the end of June of €240.9m — this includes €51.7m in investment assets and €10m in bank accounts.

It is proposed to transfer 67pc of this total into independent trusts. The remain 23pc of their assets are accounted for by liabilities (€8.1m); continuation of services such as teacher education in Marino College, Dublin, (€29.7m) and the living, welfare and care of members (€22.9m). There are 250 brothers in the country with an average of 74 years — only 62 are under 65 years of age. Many of them need healthcare.

The latest proposed transfer follows last year’s handing over of schools and associated properties by the brothers to the Edmund Rice Schools Trust (ERST), an independent body. The transfer value, inclusive of funding and establishment costs, was €435m. The Christian Brothers added: “We understand and regret that nothing we say or do can turn back the clock for those affected by abuse”.