34.0238 7 As I drove into Tipperary just before dawn I passed this church near Birdhill. The Ryan Report, which investigated physical, sexual and psychological abuse of children in the care of State- and religous-run institutions had just been released. </p><p>The respectively pleading and despairing gestures of Mary and Jesus caught my eye. It seemed to me to echo public sentiment: a plea for justice and compassion, and for an honest apology from the religious orders to the victims. And an underlying despair at the behaviour of these orders, institutions that protected the perpetrators of these terrible acts for decades and which have now closed ranks and employed the best barristers they can find to limit their exposure. Despair too at the seeming impotence of the State, or plain unwillingness of our political representatives to stand up, say what needs to be said, and ensure that justice is done. Seize their lands, their properties and their records. Send in the Gardaí, begin criminal investigations and prosecutions. As should have been done 50 or 80 years ago. 240 52.7577 Tipperary-01.jpg -8.4473 1 1909-07-02T00:00:00Z