Ryan Report Back Story, Part One

BY DEREK QUIZON

The Ryan Report, which documents decades of child abuse in Ireland’s reform and industrial schools, may be the biggest story of the moment, but finding quality sources willing to talk to foreign reporters is proving difficult. The Child Abuse Commission has made it clear that although they are willing to talk to us at some point, we are low on their list of priorities. We were directed to a survivor group called Right of Place, but their spokesman insists on meeting in person, and he lives in Cork, a three-hour train ride away from Dublin. Today, we are scouring old news reports and phone books for Dublin area survivors. We will also continue to pressure the commission for an interview and try to get in touch with members of the Catholic Church.