Pain and struggle of survivors palpable as questions remain
By Noel Baker
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
FINGERS were jabbed through the air, thick with recrimination and hurt – the only surprise is that for once the Government wasn’t the target.
Michael Waters, the grey-haired spokesman for Survivors of Child Abuse (Soca) UK, had spoken coherently and concisely about his experiences of social work and had questioned Children’s Minister Barry Andrews about plans to boost resources in the area.
Then, suddenly, he stood up and made his way onto the stage at the Government Press Centre.
He pointed first at the screens behind Mr Andrews and his two colleagues, and the words “Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse”.
Then he turned his guns on John Kelly, sitting in the front row, the spokesman for SOCA Ireland.
“Mr Kelly, you boycotted this committee,” Mr Waters said. “You called it a toothless tiger.”
His ardour rising, he said if people had listened to Mr Kelly, little would have been achieved for survivors. “You should be ashamed of yourself,” he said. “You are a coward.” There is little doubt that Mr Kelly strongly disagrees.
Maybe it was no surprise that emotions ran high yesterday.
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