After a year marked by new revelations and allegations about the scale of historic child abuse in England and Wales, Simon Cox asks whether there are lessons in the way other countries have tackled the problem. In Northern Ireland victims from across the province have begun giving testimony to an independent inquiry panel and in Scotland there are also plans for a national hearing to take evidence from residents of children's homes across the country. In the Irish Republic, as long ago as 1999, the Prime Minister apologised on behalf of the State and set up a redress board to make pay-outs to victims of abuse. But there are complaints there from those who felt it didn't go far enough and from others worried about the way costs quickly spiralled. So should there be, as some argue, a comprehensive nation-wide inquiry in England and Wales? Would it just re-open old wounds or is a truth and reconciliation process necessary to learn the lessons of the past and protect children in the future?