A solicitors' firm based in Limerick is investigating allegations that it may have double-charged survivors of child abuse. It is understood there could be as many as 20 cases involved.
McMahon, O'Brien, Downes solicitors have offices in Limerick and Dublin.
Séamus Downes, a partner with the firm, confirmed to RTÉ in a statement yesterday that they were investigating allegations of double charging made against them.
On RTÉ Radio's Liveline programme, he also said that everyone double-charged would get their money back.
He asked people who may have been double-charged, but which the firm was not yet aware of, to contact them.
It is believed the amounts by which abuse survivors were allegedly double-charged could be as high as €10,000 and in some cases may have involved illiterate people.
The director general of the Law Society, Ken Murphy, said they had already written to McMahon, O'Brien, Downes seeking details about the firm's internal investigation.
He also said that by 5pm yesterday the Law Society helpline (1800 242 631) had received 29 complaints about double-charging involving solicitors dealing with survivors of residential abuse. It is not clear how many of these complaints relate to the Limerick-based firm.
Earlier yesterday, at the opening of a new centre in Dublin for the Aislinn group, which helps survivors of abuse, Mr Murphy said that where the Law Society considered criminal activity was involved in double-charging survivors, they would pass on relevant information to the gardaí.
He also pointed out that survivors who felt criminal activity may have been involved in their dealings with solicitors could go directly to the gardaí.
Mr Murphy attended the Aislinn opening with the president of the Law Society, Owen Binchy.
The new centre was opened by Minister of State for Health and Children Brian Lenihan, who said Government reaction to the allegations had been "very, very negative".
He welcomed the Law Society's efforts to address the matter and said the society should not hesitate to forward details to the gardaí.
Christine Buckley, of the Aislinn centre, spoke of her repugnance at the allegations of double-charging. Survivors "awarded a pittance were conned by the few", she said.
If the allegations against solicitors turn out to be true, those involved should be struck off and "named and shamed", Ms Buckley said.
She pointed out that when legislation was being prepared to set up the Residential Institutions Redress Board (RIRB), Aislinn had forecast such abuses could arise because of the secrecy surrounding the board's conduct of its affairs.
They had campaigned against this and would continue to do so, she said.
She called on solicitors not involved in double charging to join with Aislinn in seeking more transparency where the RIRB was concerned.
Praising Aislinn and Ms Buckley for their work, Mr Lenihan said to the many survivors present that they could never be adequately compensated for what they had been put through.
He pointed out that today there were more than 5,000 children in care in the State, with over 4,000 of those living with foster families.
"Regrettably, it is still necessary that some be in residential care," he said, due to a pattern of persistent criminal activity where some children were concerned.
Mr Lenihan said he was trying to end that situation as quickly as possible, and was glad to say such numbers were falling.
