Tag Archives: Institutional abuse

Institutional Abuse Public Meeting

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SUPPORT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE OF INSTITUTIONAL ABUSE

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CARANUA INFORMATION EVENT DAYS

Please see below information events and dates that Caranua (service name of the Residential Institutions Statutory fund).

Institutions covered link to list of Institutions

For those living in Dublin the event takes  place next Saturday 12th March (10am-1pm) in the Gresham hotel.  For all of those who have suffered as a result of the institutions as defined in the Ryan Report and other such reports this public meeting by Caranua is important to you, as this organization is charged with administering assistance to those who suffered in such institutions.  It was set up by the then Minister Ruairi Quinn and has a budget in excess of 100 million euros which was part of an overall compensation package designed to address education, social and health issues, counselling, mental health and emotional issues.

Many of the former residents are elderly and infirm and many are in substandard accommodation. Caranua offers assistance with some house improvements, personal health issues and educational issues by way of financial support in the payment of bills.

It does not offer direct financial support by way of cash to individuals but is more to assist and help and support with provision of services and goods.

If you know of anybody who was in any of these institutions and could do with assistance and support and the relevant information regarding how to access such supports you should inform them to attend these meetings where relevant information will be supplied and also it’s an opportunity to somewhat socialize and meet others.

See you all there at the Gresham, next Saturday.

It is also important to note at such gatherings that anonymity and boundary and confidentiality are important to us all and above all to treat each other with courtesy and respect.

City Venue Date and Time Type of event

 
Dublin Gresham Hotel, O’Connell St, Dublin Saturday 12th March 10am – 1pm In addition to Caranua, other organisations will also have information stands at the event.
Manchester MacDonald Manchester Hotel, London Road, Piccadilly, Manchester Saturday 9th April 10.30am – 1pm This event will only involve Caranua
Cork River Lee Hotel, Western Road, Cork Saturday 23rd April 10am – 1pm In addition to Caranua, other organisations will also have information stands at the event.
 Galway Radisson Blu Hotel, Lough Atalia Rd, Galway Saturday 14th May 10am – 1pm In addition to Caranua, other organisations will also have information stands at the event.

 

A talk by Dr Gabriella Calchi-Novati at Forsaken exhibition

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A talk by Dr Gabriella Calchi-Novati at Forsaken exhibition, Dollard House, Wellington Quay Dublin. The Space of Gerard Mannix Flynn’s “Performances of Inclusion”: Forsaken Heterotopias Continue reading →

Urgent: Call for a full independent public inquiry into Magdalene Laundry institutions

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We need to call immediately for a ‘full independent public inquiry’ into the Magdalene Laundry system and Mother and baby homes in this country.

As Felice D. Gaer stated last week (United Nations Committee against Torture)

“ the McAleese report lacked many elements of a prompt, independent and thorough investigation, as recommended by the Committee in its Concluding Observations.  Specifically, the Committee has received information from several sources highlighting that the McAleese Report, despite its length and detail, did not conduct a fully independent investigation into allegations of arbitrary detention, forced labour or ill-treatment.  While noting the State party’s response explained that individuals and groups were encouraged to report any evidence of criminal wrong doing directly, the Committee also received information that the State party was presented with extensive survivor testimony in the from of reports by Justice for Magdalenes and was aware of the existence of possible criminal wrong doings, including physical and psychological abuse.

With these factors in mind, the Committee would appreciate further information as to the measures the State party is planning to take to ensure that there is a full inquiry into all complaints of abuse, in accordance with the Committee’s original recommendation? Please clarify whether the State party intends to set up an inquiry body that is independent, with definite terms of reference, and statutory powers to compel evidence, and retain evidence obtained from relevant religious bodies? Would such an inquiry be empowered with the capacity to hold public hearings or obtain access to evidence for survivors or representative groups? Would such an inquiry have the authority to conduct a full-scale investigation into the abuse, and issue a public invitation to submit evidence? Given the nature and duration of institutionalized abuse, as well as the advanced age (and possible geographical remoteness) of some survivors, what steps does the State party intend to take to encourage survivors to lodge complaints?

On the issue of redress for survivors of the Magdalene Laundries, please clarify how the State party intends to ensure that the proposed fund to assist victims and survivors will in fact be primarily used to help such persons, as it has publicly stated it would try to do, rather than being used to cover legal or administrative costs? What measures are being put in place to help institutionalized survivors to engage with the redress processes.

As regards the law commission investigation established following the McAleese report, and headed by President of the Irish Law Reform Commission, Mr Justice John Quirke, the Committee understands that he was charged with investigating the reporting back to the government with recommendations within three months from 19 Feb 2013 as to the “establishment of an ex gratia Scheme (to operate on a non=adversarial basis)” for survivors of the Magdalene Laundries, and to make recommendations as to the criteria that should be applied in assessing the help that the government can provide in the areas of payments and other supports, including medical cards, psychological and counseling services and other welfare needs. The committee is concerned that his work is premised on the incomplete investigations carried out by MrAleese committee. In this regard, the Committee looks forward to learning of the results of his investigation. Please also clarify whether the Quirke investigation process will have independent statutory powers, be transparent and also subject to an appeals process, and independently monitored”

 

Felice D. Gaer 22nd May 2013 United Nations Human Rights office of the High Commissioner

 

State White Wash

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IRISH STATE WHITE WASH

The design for the Government/Irish State memorial as recommended in the http://www.childabusecommission.com/rpt/pdfs/ Ryan Report – Commission to enquire into child abuse in Residential Schools is seeking planning permission.   This premature gesture, in the form of a memorial/monument is more of a crushing blow to truth, transparency and justice than any of the horrendous testimonies contained in the Ryan Report itself.  This pseudo attempt by the State/Government of the Republic of Ireland to address the issues of torture and inhumane treatment of children in its care is an outrage in itself and an insult to those who are continuing to struggle for justice and accountability for the many crimes committed against them in State sanctioned and religious run institutions on the Island of Ireland.

Recently, the First Minister and deputy First Minster of Northern Ireland extended the terms for the http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/historical-institutional-abuse inquiry into historical institutional abuse in Northern Ireland between 1922 and 1995.  This is a Statutory Inquiry.  Many such inquiries have yet to be established throughout the length and breath of Ireland in every parish to uncover the truth of what happened to generations of children at the hands of the most trusted.  The more difficult issues of responsibility, accountability and securing justice for the abused still appear to be a long way off.  Justice is still being denied to thousands of individuals who were brutalised in institutions in the Irish Republic and few of those who did the brutalising have had to face any consequences for their behaviour. While these core matters remain unresolved, erecting this memorial is premature, a folly built on sand.

Memorials are about the past and the issues of physical, emotional and sexual abuse in Irish institutions are not yet historical. Certainly not for the women forced to toil in the http://www.magdalenelaundries.com Magdalene Laundries, nor for the children of the “http://www.indymedia.ie/article/100060 Bethany homes, Mother and baby homes, the trafficked children or those abused in day-schools,or the most recent report into the child prison,http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2012/1020/1224325505278.html St Patricks Institution Dublin, none of whom have yet had the wrongs done to them acknowledged, heard or redressed.  Until their stories are heard and honoured, erecting a ‘monument’ is, at the very least, insensitive.

Doubly so when it is sponsored by the same State which was a co-accused and a guilty party to their abuse. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/the-indemnity-deal-at-a-glance-1747692.html

 The time to memorialise an issue like this is only when all that can be put right has been put right.  That time is not yet here. 

This memorial is a whitewash and an avoidance of truth by the very people who were engaged in the joint venture of torture and inhumane treatment of generations of children, the Irish State.

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“The reports on child abuse highlight how the law did not serve or apply to all members of Irish society equally. Despite the severity of the crimes revealed in the Ferns, Ryan, Murphy and Cloyne reports which range from physical assault to rape, very few perpetrators have been convicted.  The neglect and abuse in these reports can be categorized as torture, and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment under human rights law.  The children’s right to be free from slavery and forced labour were contravened.”

Amnesty International Ireland Report, October 2011

What can you do?

Write to Dublin City Council Planning Department and raise your objections to this obstacle to justice, truth and exclusion. The web reference on Dublin City Council  website 1196/12

Email your objections:Planning@dublincity.ie”Planning@dublincity.ie

view of walkway2walkway lightsAn inscription of the ‘apology’  of former Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern,  is proposed to dominate the tunnel.  This same person is responsible for the indemnity deal between the Irish State and Church. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/the-indemnity-deal-at-a-glance-1747692.html  (See also Bruce Arnold, ‘The Irish Gulag’ page 122  – The Secret Deal)

plans 2As you can see from the plans the tunnel is designed to come out at the head of a crucifix in the Garden of Remembrance.  A highly inappropriate symbol to be merged into any memorial to children who have been abused by the State and Church.White washView the plans of the ‘OPW’ memorial on our site at Essex Street, Temple Bar Dublin.