'I am so sorry' Taoiseach issues apology to sexual assault victims following Scoping Inquiry

David Ryan, a survivor of sexual abuse has called for a State apology in his interview following the release of the Scoping Inquiry report. The Scoping Inquiry report that investigated the alleged abuse in schools run by religious orders. The findings of the report detailed nearly 2,400 of historical sexual abuse, in 308 schools.

David Ryan talked about his first reaction to the release of the scoping inquiry. He spoke on RTÉ's Morning Ireland. "It is great that it has come out, and I am thrilled for Mark and my sake, that it has just come out and the ball is starting to roll at long last."

He talked about other people's reaction to the news "The phones have not stopped ringing. How are you? What do you think?" Talking more on the report, "I'll be honest I just haven't read the report, it's just too much, too raw, too soon, I will do it on my own time. But what has come out I am happy with. There are mixed emotions, some people aren't too happy, some people are happy, I'm going to sit on the fence for the moment, I will do it on my own time, when I am ready."

Taking about the next steps "My perpetrators have all died, I never got justice. So we have to work forward to the perpetrators that are alive. They have to be brought in and tried."

When asked about a swift commission of investigation, a state apology, and a redress, he responded "Definitely, everything has to be done. I can't emphasise this so much, stop sitting on their backsides now, lets get this this up and going."

Speaking later in the programme on Morning Ireland, Taoiseach Simon Harris said on the matter of the report "It has unleashed a national trauma." "A national trauma is an appropriate description of what our country is going through right now and I want to thank the survivors and thank David and his brother, Mark for their courage coming forward. We have this deep painful wound now."

"We have people's pasts who were destroyed and has resulted in their futures being put on hold. We have seen the most egregious, that's is even too weak a word, breach of trust, responsability and authority and it was endemic."

Speaking then on the State apology "I can't see a day where there is not a State apology and I want to say today as Taoiseach that I am so sorry and I feel such a deep sense of sorrow, hurt, anger, and disgust, and we will get this right."