A group of men who claim they were abused as children in a Derry care home are to meet with the Bishop of Derry, Dr Seamus Hegarty. The local men have also requested an audience with Pope Benedict XVI and Irish Catholic Primate Dr Sean Brady.
The Derry victims have helped form a new group called Justice for Survivors, which is spearheading a campaign for a full inquiry into the extent of child abuse in Catholic run institutions in Northern Ireland in the wake of the publication of the damning Ryan report on the Dublin diocese.
The former Termonbacca 'homeboys' are hoping to meet Bishop Hegarty later this month, after he agreed this week to listen to their stories.
Brian Doherty, who says he was abused during two terms under the care of the Sisters of Nazareth at Termonbacca, said the victims have been seeking meetings with the senior Catholic church figures for some time.
"A lot of people suffered in the home and in other homes around the country, and it's about time the senior church figures heard what we have to say.
"We've also requested a meeting with the Pope, although we've had no response yet. We've requested a meeting with Cardinal Brady but his office has instead set up a meeting between us and a representative from the NSPCC which is not what we asked for," he said.
Pope Benedict XVI is due to issue a Papal letter to the people of Ireland shortly regarding institutional child sex abuse following his recent meeting with all the Irish Bishops in the Vatican.
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