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A NUMBER OF groups representing the women and children that were in mother and baby homes have raised concerns about the interdepartmental report published today.
The new Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, James Reilly published the report examining what the government know about the homes. Judge Yvonne Murphy was also announced as the chairperson of the Commission of Investigation into mother and baby homes.
Omissions
While Paul Redmond, spokesperson for the Coalition of Mother and Baby Homes Survivors (CMABS) said that report published today was “reasonably comprehensive” he said there were some “glaring omissions”.
The citing of some holding centres, but the exclusion of the Temple Hill holding centre was concerning, they said.
He said that only including registered births to calculate figures in the nine mother and baby homes instead of the numbers of expectant mothers “also seriously misrepresents and downplays the numbers involved” he claimed.
Redmond also stated that it is presently unclear from the report of the interdepartmental group whether all of the institutions will be included in the terms of reference.
The conclusions from the report seem to indicate that the county homes will not be expressly included in the inquiry, as regards providing redress.
Derek Leinster, Chairperson of the Bethany Survivors Group said the omission of the Protestant West Bank Home from the report was concerning to them.
Ryan Commission
He said the reference that the commission will not re-investigating institutions covered by the Ryan Commission “makes no sense when it comes to Protestant survivors” they added.
We pointed out in our submission, the Ryan Commission did not investigate these institutions. The Ryan Commission stated there were few if any Protestant orphans because, ‘there was a waiting list of would–be adopters’.That was not the experience of the vast majority never adopted in the Westbank Orphanage Co Wicklow, or the foster children in the care of the Nurse Rescue Society, who were used as free farm labourers from the age of five.
“Although the Bethany Home is mentioned, at last, what about the Church of Ireland Magdalen home that was also a so-called mother and baby home?” he asked.
“The abuse this group suffered has never been investigated and, if this report has its way, never will. If this goes through, it will be a disgrace and a farce” said Leinster.
CMABS also expressed disappointment that an international judge was not appointed, and whilst acknowledging Judge Murphy did a commendable job chairing the Murphy Commission into child sex abuse, the coalition said they are aware of concerns by symphysiotomy survivors regarding the redress scheme which Judge Murphy was recently involved in overseeing, they said.
The report published today stated that the time available to the group to survey the many issues and diverse sources of information has been extremely compressed. “Initial examinations have served to highlight the volume and range of records that are potentially relevant to the work of the Commission,”it stated.
Congratulations to all involved, it is a wonderful opportunity.
Hmm, that’s what they said about unpaid internships.
@Phillip O’Brien: ya right great on you supporting a cult
@rowan hill: I have the right to my religion, yes.
You might need to check exactly what a “cult” is before using it in ad hominem attacks.
@Phillip O’Brien: Opportunity for what? To kowtow to a corrupt organisation and it’s mealy mouthed leader?
The irony of women doing laundry/ironing for this is beyond comprehension.
@Phillip O’Brien: you need to look up what ad hominem actually means.
@Dave O Keeffe: Apparently giving out about massively wealthy international organisations now qualifies as an “ad hominem” – what a world we live in.
@Dave O Keeffe: No I don’t, there was a statement made against me.
@Phillip O’Brien: cult (noun) – 1. a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object. Eh, yeah….
@Phillip O’Brien: no, the comment referred to you as a supporter of the church but referred to the church as a cult.
@Phillip O’Brien:
Yes you do have a right to your religion Phillip. It’s just a pity your chosen religion (The Catholic Church) is the most unchristian organisation on the planet.
@roderick: Need I say more – your comment is proof of what I’m saying.
@Dave O Keeffe: I’d suggest you read the thread again.
@James Joseph Superior Power: That’s certainly not been my experience.
@Phillip O’Brien: But it is the experience of so many who went through rape and abuse or imprisonment in a laundry where their babies were sold or those who didn’t make it in Tuam. You are entitled to your religion but let’s not sugar coat those other experiences
@Phillip O’Brien: Hi Phillip. I took the liberty of getting you a definition.
cult
kʌlt/
noun
a system of religious veneration and devotion directed towards a particular figure or object.
@David Quigley: Thank you. Your definition proves exactly that Roman Catholicism is not a cult.
Many people here are implying that RC is a cult which worships/adores/venerates Pope Francis which is clearly false and an uneducated view.
@Phillip O’Brien: Nah, more like a cult that worships/adores/venerates Jesus of Nazareth.
Unpaid laundry work has a familiar ring to it
Mascot is a sheep….. says it all !
@Hello DAVE!: the flock with the frock.
@Hello DAVE!: it’s all about blindly following….no questions asked, a sheep is the perfect moscot.
That’s why they refer to followers as the flock.
How do the 500,000 reconcile themselves with this? And wait till the Vatican shames and sorrows for the rest off the US, Ireland, the UK, Austrailia and then all the third world countries where these dark sick secrets are still hidden.
Can any of the faithful answer and remember, it’s not a once off….have a look at the 500000 of you in the Phoenix park. The crowd is huge. Please note it’s a safe bet that at least that number of children have suffered from the RCC the last 1000 years.
Please let me know.
@Paul Furey: at least that, worldwide in the last 200 years its likely in the millions that have been abused,
@Barry Somers: the earliest record of a paedophile priest dates from 400AD in the churches own writings. 1600 years of this.
This is like a referendum with thejournal carefully balancing the articles.
@Daveinson: Baa!
@Daveinson: would you rather they wrote articles defending child abuse? Millions abused worldwide, all covered up by the Vatican, what could you possibly put on the other side to balance that out?
@Dave O Keeffe: An opinion piece from an Archbishop saying “yeah but it wasn’t ALL the priests!!!” should do nicely for balance on this terribly nuanced issue…
@ihcalaM: it wouldn’t get past the Vatican because it would have to admit culpability.
@Dave O Keeffe: True. I forgot they were still in the ‘we’re really sorry about all that stuff and by the way we’re still shielding serial abusers’ phase.
@Dave O Keeffe: Is the Pope a Catholic??
@Peter Casey:
He might be Catholic but he is no Christian
Baptised a Catholic, but will not be part of a criminal organization. A religion that has always been a business. Granted the same could be said for all organised religions…. but the fallacy of the Catholic Church is beyond belief.
@Donal Desmond: Are You sure about that Sir? The Mother Church stopped Baptising human beings since well 1944 in english and 1777 in Latin. III. The Spirit of the Age http://ourladyisgod.com/
@Peadar117: I hope you stick around after the visit. You are great craic. Seriously, the sky fairy conspiracies are great.
Sheep outfit. Says it all, really. Waterford Whispers territory.
@Martin Meyler: I’m presuming you’re being sarcastic? You do actually get it?
@Phillip O’Brien: well, duh…
The church’s capacity for irony has never been great.
And if you check the link, the clear aim is to lure in the kiddies. Which, you’d imagine at this stage, they might have copped on as to how that might be perceived.
They should all don sheep outfits.
How are we still so stupid as to still believe in this nonsense?
@Tony Doran: Slowly, but surely, we are overcoming it.
Ironing mammies?? Have we moved on at all? I’ve a feeling we’re not in 1979 anymore
Good to see the Church back in the laundry business.
Some of those Priestly vestments will need a good scrubbing..
Sheep thing is creepy…
Baa baa black sheep have you any wool, yes sir, yes sir, three bags full, one for the master, one for the slave and one for the little boy who lives down the lane…..Hmmmmmm.
The use of the Defence Forces to fill the gaps where insufficient volunteers were available is disgraceful.
The Defense Forces are not volunteers and have been ordered to fill the gaps where the church couldn’t provide. It’s a disgrace.
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