I raise the case of a constituent in County Galway who has experienced lifelong difficulties and trauma as a result of historical abuse at the hands of a member of the Christian Brothers who was his primary school teacher. The individual who carried out the abuse has since been convicted. My constituent's legal representatives have written to successive Ministers requesting redress from the State but those letters have fallen on deaf ears. His solicitor has advised him that he may have to initiate High Court proceedings, which would cause him further grief and trauma and would be extremely costly. He should not be forced to go through the courts system. He is simply asking for the compensation he is entitled to without being subjected to further trauma. Specifically, he is asking for the same opportunity for mediation as was offered only recently to other survivors of abuse. Can that be facilitated? My constituent wishes to remain anonymous but I am happy to pass on his details.

Sentiment score: -0.22