The people of the Wexford diocese of Ferns are bracing themselves for the publication of the report into clerical sex abuse, which is expected to outline disturbing details of allegations of clerical sex abuse stretching back over three decades.
For the clergy it is a time of deep anxiety as the details of allegations stretching back decades against dozens of priests, which is bound to reignite public anger at the church's handling of clerical sex abuse scandals.
And for victims, who say they were repeatedly failed by authorities, there is apprehension at whether the inquiry report's conclusions will go as far as they hope.
"I'm anxious and fearful that the truth still won't come out," said Patrick Bennett (39) from New Ross, who as a child was abused by Fr Seán Fortune. "What was done to me and others is just too big for words."
Bennett, who said the process of speaking to the inquiry team was hugely beneficial in helping him to deal with his suffering, said it was vital the full extent of abuse that took place is addressed in the report.
"If I have one wish, it's that everything will be dealt with in great detail: how people failed, got in the way, how they got away with what they did. We have to accept what happened in the past; we can't change that, but hopefully we can change the future."
Martina Dempsey from Enniscorthy, who as a schoolgirl was abused by Fr Jim Grennan in a pre-confirmation ceremony in the 1980s, said she hoped the report would finally silence those who refused to believe reports of child abuse.
"For me it's recognition of the truth for the first time. When it came out first, people said, 'how could a priest do that?' We weren't believed by maybe 30 or 40 per cent of the parish. Why would anyone lie about it? Why would anyone want to go through what I've been through?
"There was great relief in being able to speak to people [ the inquiry team] who listened to what I had to say and be believed by them. For the first time since 1988, I felt I was genuinely believed . . . Maybe now people will get their head out of the sand and realise that this was dealt with disgracefully. We were just brushed aside."
Yesterday, priests in the diocese who have received advice from a clinical psychologist on how to deal with the publication of the report, declined to comment officially, preferring to wait until the report was published.
However, Fr John Littleton, president of the National Conference of Priests of Ireland, said there was a deep desire to learn from the mistakes of the past.
"While priests might be apprehensive, they are anxious that all the details come out," Fr Littleton said. "Every time the details of child sex abuse are revealed, it really upsets everyone, victims and priests.
"Priests in general are hoping the whole story will come out and that some kind of closure can begin to be brought to all of this sad state of affairs. There will never be closure for victims but, insofar as it's possible, this might be the beginning of a final chapter in this."
For local Dáil deputies, who are due to be briefed on the report's contents this afternoon, they say it should be used as an opportunity to ensure that measures are put in to ensure proper child protection procedures are put in place.
"We as legislators need to ensure this doesn't happen again," said Fine Gael TD and health spokesman Dr Liam Twomey, who is based in Rosslare. "People who had very important positions of responsibility knew what was going on, but it wasn't challenged."