GENEVA
Expatica
Ireland must launch a wide-ranging, independent probe into the past abuse of women and children in state and Catholic Church-run institutions, a UN rights watchdog said Thursday.
“Very important steps have been taken by the Irish government,” said Cees Flinterman, deputy chairman of the UN Human Rights Committee.
“But what is lacking is an independent, thorough investigation which would lead to bringing those who perpetrated those acts to justice,” he told reporters.
Ireland has been rocked by scandals over abuse in children’s homes and institutions for unmarried mothers that were mainly run by the Roman Catholic Church for the state.
Several inquiries have been undertaken or are in the pipeline, but the UN committee said it was time for an overarching effort to deal with past ills.
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