Presbyterian ministers and elders attended a special general assembly in Belfast on Thursday to agree new measures on safeguarding.

It comes after ‘serious and significant failings’ were found in central safeguarding functions from 2009 to 2022.

Mr Finlay said that social workers and parents had found evidence and had made “very, very specific” complaints. There was “enormous” physical evidence of abuse.

The inspection found 35 per cent of staff across centres were not appropriately vetted by gardaí.

The Children’s Ombudsman said the complaints process was ‘not sufficiently robust’ to deal with complaints about restraint.