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My name is Noel Ball, I am a deaf man living in Ireland with my wife and two children.
My wife is deaf and I went to St Josephs school for Deaf Boys Cabra Navan Road Dublin 7 for 5 years from 1968 to 1973. I had attended a hearing school before I went to St Joseph's. Before I went to St Josephs I was a happy child.
I had no choice but to go there, you see this was the only secondary school for Deaf boys in Ireland and I went there with other members of my family.
We were treated very badly in the school. I myself was beaten and sexually abused and I know that I wasn't alone. I was punished for signing and the beatings were many and regular.
It was not just one Christian Brother who did this to me there were a number of them- at one time it got so bad that I tried to jump from the staircase and finish it.
The nightmare of what happened to me in St Joseph's has haunted me all my life and I did try to bring it to the attention of people as to how unjust it was. In the past I was not heard, I have tried to hurt myself in the past, once I tried to stop the pain by taking an overdose. I also tried to cut my wrists.
I have suffered terrible stress and depression for years and still continue to get treatment for my health. I have been hospitalised for severe psoriases and my Consultant says that the stress of the abuse has contributed to my illness. I suffer pains in my hands and arms from the beating and I have in the past had problems with alcohol. What has happened has permanently scarred me and life has been a struggle.
In the year 2000 I wanted to do something positive so I set up voluntary group to highlight the plight of deaf people who were abused in institutions in Ireland. I have travelled around Ireland and England on voluntary basis to let deaf people know what they can do for themselves. Very little attention has been given to the deaf community in the context of child abuse in religious run institutions.
Unfortunately, for too long it has all been silenced and people that I meet are unable to communicate their stories with the greater community as most can only use their own language - sign language. As I have said sign language was not allowed to be used in deaf schools I was punished for using my own language. They wanted me to speak another language.
We were deaf, young and innocent with no one to look after us. They abused me and some of the abusers are still alive. It was a brutal regime and while the Gardaí (Irish police) in Dublin are investigating complaints I will not rest until there is justice in the criminal courts. For too long we were beaten and ignored.
Also I want those people, who, as children were abused while in residential care to know that there is a system in place in Ireland to obtain some redress from the State for what happened to them. It is not a perfect system but it is a start and most importantly it is very important that knowledge of it comes out.
I will not be silenced no money can give me back my lost years, the damage that it has done to me and my family. I am lucky that I have a wonderful wife and family who understand me and support me doing my voluntary work to help the deaf community. I live in hope that I will see Justice and that the stories of the past can finally be told and read.
I want deaf people to know that they can apply for this redress, without having to go to Court and if they want to tell their story they will be heard in private and awarded some recompense for what they were made to endure as children in care.
Please speak up for the Deaf they need your help to ensure their stories are heard.
If any deaf person wants to contact me for advice or information my email is: Noel Ball and my fax number is: 00353-50243132.
Thank you
Yours sincerely
9 Pine Villas
Dublin
Ireland