By Conor Ryan, Political Correspondent
Monday, August 24, 2009
THE author of the report on institutional child abuse has said the country will be tested by how it deals with the fallout from the inquiry’s revelations.
Mr Justice Sean Ryan, chairman of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, also said but for the tenacity and courage of the victims, their horrific treatment at the hands of religious orders would never have come to light.
He said the ability of the perpetrators to get away with their crimes reflected wider problems.
“It says a lot about our society, institutions and our systems in the past that these events happened.
“It will also say a lot about our present situation as to how we respond to the disclosure of these events.”
Mr Justice Ryan made his comments when accepting the Humbert Award, which was given to him in recognition of the work the Commission had done.
It was his first public statement since the shocking results of the inquiry were published in May. He said now the report was in the public domain it was up to society at large to ensure it effected the necessary change. “Our work is there to be seen, to be analysed, to be discussed, debated and reflected upon. This is the best report we could make.
“It is for others to do justice to those who suffered abuse in the past and to decide what can be done to ensure that such events do not happen in the future.”
The award was presented to him by Nobel laureate John Hume on Saturday during a day-long session analysing how the abuse was allowed happen and what were its lingering affects.
Other awards were presented to Michael O’Brien (Right to Peace group), Tom Hayes (Alliance Victim Support group) and Dolores Rooney (Irish Survivors of Child Abuse) on behalf of all the victims.
Mary Raftery, the journalist whose documentaries helped expose the horror of institutional abuse, was also honoured.
Meanwhile Augustinian priest Iggy Donovan, in a separate address, suggested the country should have a national day of atonement on September 27, the 30th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s visit. It would be inappropriate for the day to be one of celebration because of all that was happening in institutions at the time of the Papal visit.
“Surely it would make more sense than engaging in a triumphalist nostalgic exercise commemorating what has turned out to be the last sting of a dying wasp.”
The chief executive of the One in Four Group, Maeve Lewis, said everybody in society had to face up to what happened during the period of abuse and it was not good enough to point fingers.
She warned children were still not safe and the State needed to take equal responsibility to protect vulnerable children who are abused in domestic settings.
The Humbert Summer School concluded yesterday.
Irish Examiner Monday, August 24, 2009
May, I’ve been concerned for a long time at the way various so called representative groups of people who were institutionalised and abused have been carrying on. They have no mandate, they are unelected and they don’t appear to want to get any information out to people like yourself and indeed many thousands of others. I’ve kept my website going for 10 years now without receiving a cent from anyone – I don’t want a cent – I will continue doing what I’ve been doing.
I very much appreciate your kind comments and thank you for them.
Paddy.
Paddy
These same group leaders have not had any meetings in England for at Least five years , where 40%of the survivors are. Why have they been given an award and who recommended them. there has not been any voting. The 40% of the survivors in England have had no representation about anything that concerns the survivors hear. Without your site Paddy we would not know what’s been done on our behalf.
Keep well
May
I agree Hanora! they have been of no use, and seem to be paid for sitting on their backsides whilst people are suffering.
As always, the survivors always lose out!
I would like to organise another march in protest of all the corruption-minus some of these “survivor group’s”… I think enough is enough..
Sharon.
P.S Paddy thank you for your mail! speak soon.
Dear Paddy,
These survivor group representatives have a cosy little cottage industry going on for their benefit only. I attended a meeting in Cork and saw one of ROP’s staff members actually punch another survivor simply because he was asking for the keys to the Welcome House B&B! Is the funding not for survivors or just the chosen few. Have been in touch with the relevant departments with these questions; which should make for interesting reading. Hope you are minding yourself and thank god for this website, its sanity, its professionalism, its detailed information and mostly your good self!
Kind regards
Hanora Brennan
Awards are a means of diversion from truth.
The same secrecy re abuse of children is in existance today.
And when abuse is reported- guess what.?
In a secret kangaroo court- to protect the identity of the child- oh yes- that is the excuse they use- the abused child will be placed with his or her abuser again.
I have so many cases of this- over and over again.
WHY?
Because the Patriarchal system sees all children as objects to be used and abused- their possessions.
Do the people of Eire know how many protective parents went to prison in Eire in secret.?
Do the people of Eire know how many children had to flee the child protectors in recent years.?
Do the people know that only a few years ago innocent children were to be given electric shock therapy in their children’s prisons- reason- this child is too intellignet and needs normalising.
The innocent child had done nothing wrong- but his abuser had- so Court corporation decides to erase the memory of the child in order to protect the abuser.
We are “great” at covering up truth.
Now put your words into action, both you and the Taoiseach and Expunge my illegal conviction.
Paddy
Could you just explain something to me. Sorry for seeming a bit stupid so you have to excuse me before I start ranting.
Paddy, this is more or less the first I heard about these awards to some survivors. I saw something on your site the other day and maybe a breaking news bit in the papers. I’m a so called “Survivor”, but Paddy no body asked me to vote for these people to take an award for Me or my siblings suffering at the hands of the Irish Industrial School System
Who organised this award ceremony?
Who voted the people from the Industrial School who went up to take the awards on our behalf?
Why were we not informed about this a few months ago?
Why was it kept so quiet?
I have an awful lot of questions paddy, but i don’t want to be taking up your precious website space.
Sorry