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Derek Leinster

'For the first time in 16 years we were treated the same as Catholics'

Mother and baby homes, including one group from a Protestant home, met with Minister James Reilly this month.

BETHANY HOME SURVIVORS met with Children and Youth Affairs Minister James Reilly recently, and continue to press for redress.

Derek Leinster, chair of the Bethany Survivors Group, told TheJournal.ie that overall, the meeting went well.

However, he said that he does not want any information that the mother and baby home inquiry compiles to gather dust.

Minister Reilly was meeting with the survivors on the issue of the proposed inquiry into mother and baby homes in Ireland.

“First and foremost I felt that for the first time in 16 years that we were being treated the same [as Catholic mother and baby homes],” said Leinster. “We weren’t being treated third or first but the same, and that’s all I ever wanted to happen.”

He said he made that point to Minister Reilly.

A memorial to the 200+ children who died at the Protestant Bethany Home and were buried in unmarked graves was installed in Mount Jerome Cemetery earlier this year. Funding for the project came following a government decision.

“I think myself that with the erection of the memorial stone that things will never be the same again. That whatever happens they’ll never be able to hide it or pretend it’s not there,” said Leinster.

He said that he is continuing the fight for redress. “The feeling is we’ve got to keep pressure on the Government,” said Leinster. “We’ve got to feel we’re on the right track. It’s easy to be diverted from the right track.”

He also urged the government to make a decision on redress quickly, as the survivors are getting older.

Survivors

Also present at the meeting were members of the Coalition of Mother and Baby Home Survivors (CMABS): Adoption Rights Now; Beyond Adoption Ireland; Adopted Illegally Ireland; The Castlepollard Mother and Baby Home group; and the Dunboyne Mother and Baby Home group.

The survivors said that the inquiry into the homes must be “survivor centered” and that all former residents of all institutions in Ireland should be accepted and acknowledged by the inquiry.

CMABS said they felt the meeting “was very productive” and that Minister Reilly “fully understood their position”. They said the Minister was hopeful the inquiry will be completed within three years, though this has not been confirmed by Government.

Read: Should the mother-and-baby homes inquiry include orphanages?>

Read: Here’s how to make a submission to the mother and baby homes inquiry>

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    Mute 2thFairy
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    Oct 12th 2021, 5:12 PM

    The increase in SNAs is a smoke screen. They can sanction thousands of extra SNAs but if the SENO to the school won’t allow it then the school won’t get one. A school is only granted SNAs for care needs. A child in mainstream could be struggling with ADHD, Autism, speech and/or language, depression, anti-social behaviours, be a child with Down Syndrome or any other multitude of issues that present themselves but if they don’t have care needs (toileting issues or be a danger to themselves or others) then they won’t/don’t get an SNA.

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    Mute Mac Muinteoir
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    Oct 12th 2021, 3:18 PM

    The increase in the school building programme is badly needed. You only get one go at being in school, it’s so unfair that for some kids, their school experience takes place in delapidated, extremely expensive, prefabs.

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    Mute Philip Broderick
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    Oct 12th 2021, 3:47 PM

    Still far to high a pupil / teacher ratio.

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    Mute Dec
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    Oct 12th 2021, 3:52 PM

    @Philip Broderick: I totally agree but it’s a good start.

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    Mute Eamonn Tierney
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    Oct 12th 2021, 3:50 PM

    The announcement on the increase in SNA’s must be good news for those in need of Special Education, their teacher’s and parents.

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    Mute Alan Campbell
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    Oct 12th 2021, 4:07 PM

    @Eamonn Tierney: and good news for my sister. She just got her sna cert today

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