Irish orders refuse to revisit child abuse deal

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Irish religious orders stood by their refusal to renegotiate a compensation deal for victims of abuse in Catholic-run schools on Monday despite increasing pressure from church leaders and politicians.

Irish police will investigate whether charges can be brought following the publication last week of a harrowing report into abuse at reform institutions that the orders ran on behalf of the state between the 1930s and the 1970s.

Cardinal Sean Brady, the leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland, leaned on the religious congregations to echo comments by the Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, that more must be done for the victims.

The orders' contribution to a redress scheme for thousands of victims that is expected to top 1 billion euros was capped at 127 million euros ($178 million) under a 2002 agreement.

"It should be revisited and taken into consideration the potential of people to pay and above all the needs of the victims - we have to keep coming back to that," Brady told state broadcaster RTE.

But the 18 religious congregations that signed the deal with the Irish government stood firm.

"Rather than re-opening the terms of the agreement reached with government in 2002, we reiterate our commitment to working with those who suffered enormously while in our care," the 18 orders, that include the Christian Brothers and the Sisters of Mercy, said in a statement after meeting on Monday.

"We must find the best and most appropriate ways of directly assisting them."