By Jennifer Hough
Monday, June 21, 2010
A CHARITY for survivors of institutional abuse continues to get government funding despite senior HSE management being shown evidence more than a year ago that there was “concern” over how the money was being used.
In a letter to senior managers in the HSE, Oliver Burke, acting administrator of Right of Place, a charity for survivors of institutional abuse, wrote “we all agreed the evidence gave cause for concern”, and that “sample evidence” proved all was not being done in a “correct and democratic matter”.
The letter, dated August 31, 2009, refers to a meeting held the previous March between Mr Burke and HSE managers, where he first raised concerns about how the charity was being run.
Right of Place has been under scrutiny after the HSE ordered that founder Noel Barry answer questions in relation to how it was spending its money.
However, questions remain unanswered and no independent investigation has taken place.
One of the country’s largest survivor groups, it has received millions of euro in Government funding since 2002 and continues to receive money.
Mr Burke, who has fought for more than a year to have Mr Barry removed and to have an audit of accounts carried out, said he felt the HSE was now trying to cover up its own ineptitude in dealing with the matter.
“I trusted the HSE to investigate, but now that this is not happening I want it all out in the open.”
Having received no adequate response to his August letter, Mr Burke followed it up with another in December.
In that letter, addressed to senior manager Gerry Kelly, Mr Burke requested that funding to Right of Place be stopped pending an investigation into all accounts and matters of a financial nature.
“I know you have tried your best to meet with Mr Barry but he still fails to answer any of your questions or will not provide proper documentation, unfortunately this is not satisfactory to any of us concerned in this matter,” the letter states.
“Your department supplies a budget to Right of Place for very clear and specific reasons as laid out in the budget agreement, this has not been done correctly now for quite some time, and members who need genuine assistance are not getting it.”
Mr Burke has now written to the Minster for Health Mary Harney requesting intervention.
In his letter to the minister, this month, Mr Burke outlines the problems within the charity, including incidents of intimidation within the charity, some which have been brought to the attention of Gardaí and asks for a “full and independent investigation”.
In the letter he claims state funds and religious donations were “seriously misused and are unaccounted for”.
This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Monday, June 21, 2010
THAT IS A VERY GOOD, AND INTERESTING QUESTION PAULINE. I DO NOT SEE HOW THEY COULD FIGHT THAT ONE IN A COURT OF LAW. I THINK YOU HAVE A VERY VERY VALID POINT THERE, AND ONE I WOULD ENVISAGE, AND GOOD SOLICITOR, OR BARRISTER, WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ARGUE ON YOUR BEHALF IN ANY COURT OF LAW. PERSONALLY I CANNOT SEE YOU LOSING THE ARGUMENT, AFTER ALL YOU WERE WORKING FOR THE GOVERNMENT, AND THE RELIGIOUS, AS A CHILD LABORER.
JUST THOUGHT EVERYBODY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, AS FAR AS I KNOW, THIS BARRISTER ( OR WHAT EVER HE IS ) DOING ALL OF BARRY’S SHOUTING FOR HIM IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SURVIVOR HIMSELF. SO WHY DOES HE DO WHAT HE IS DOING???? YOU MAY WELL ASK. BUT WHAT I AM CERTAIN OF, HE WAS NOT, ELECTED BY THE SURVIVORS, BUT BY THE HSE. HE IS BARRYS, MOUTHPIECE.
ho rose would like to know which uk group as manchester is against the fund ! we had a vote of hands at our last meeting andnearly all agreed they did not want it!birmingham we also went to visit were of the same mind and coventry dont knoew about london men or women as yet ! but we are still not being listened too ! european union is where i am heading with a letter to see if this is illegal ! let you know
they reckon the redress covered that as well. so much for solicitors advice.
if you work out what was actually lost in those schools as a child/teen, you would then see how much you are worth as a human being now VERY VERY LITTLE.
iworked for many years of my childhood ? MY QUESTION IS CAN I DAMAND THAT MY OLD AGE PENSION BE ACCORDING TO THOSE YEARS TOO AS I HAVE SPENT MOST OF MY LIFE WITHOUT SOCIALE RIGHTS? BECAUSE I LEFT G B BY ABSCONDING . AND THEREFORE IRELAND
Sally your previous ‘very first’ comments to post on here, i hope, is (are) the first of many. Your very detailed ‘fly on the wall’ account of events at the meeting with the Taoiseach and other Government Ministers offers us an insight, clarification, and indeed an endoresment, regard the many comments on Paddys site, as to how and why people feel so let down by so-called groups representatives. The behaviour of some leaders towards the Taoiseach and the intimitading and the low murmured heckling experienced by yourself and Paddy when you joined the meeting will not have gone un-noticed. Is it not surprising that the Government have stood their ground on the setting up of a ‘Statutory Fund’ (or some sort of Trust)? The marathon four hours that the Taoiseach gave of his time to allow group leaders (and individuals like Paddy) the platform to voice their concerns, and to ask questions, is to be applauded. He (Taoiseach) must have thought afterwards that the four hours could have been best spent elsewhere. It appears to me that an opportunity to show how survivors can be dignified, willing to listen, and learn was totally wasted.
I do appreciate Mick Waters (SOCA UK) suggestion to the Taoiseach of a ballot for all survivors rather than an automatic ‘Trust Fund.’ This, however, was not to be and as you mentioned we are being offered no other alternative.
I also agree that Paddy Doyles voice is imperative to any future negotiations. Paddy is independent (always has been) and has very like minded views of the many survivors who post on here. Ultimately and very importantly, Paddy has respect from many quarters both in Government and outside. It is such a shame that others don’t have the same esteem and dignity. I look forward to reading more of your post on here Sally.
question i would love awnsered is can the redress board be found ilegal ?
where sally can these minutes be read ?
Sally! you made my day.
thank you sally for the information, i do believe however it is very sad that the government is using what i feel is a heavy hand once again.
there is no need for abuse we all know how that hurts.
we seem to have two types of anger here, survivors and so called support groupies.
1. the hurt we have gone through and the treatment so far by the government is to say the least very painful.
we already have the education fund and it is never paid out on time nor was it explained clearly on how it works we thought if you get the main grant you cannot claim this fund (wrong advice by right of place).
MOST are far too old to care for this educational funding. redress is seen as savings by welfare (this can be proven).
no one is interested in this complaint.
i was referred to the welfare web site and citizen’s information by the head of social protection when i had a query about survivor support by email to jerry buttimer.
2. these groups have not been interested in survivors complaints they just want a job and dish out useless forms documents by the ton and the such that survivors have no idea what they are about. those who do could read them on the internet ( saving even more money)
trips around the world when we have skype and other ways of talking to people in other countries (more money saved.
they just think they can decide for survivors.
if they do care for survivors why do they need an office block? most political counselors work from home.
the government is the government we may not agree but there are ways to put the arguments across other than abuse. if we demand respect we should also give it.
the jews stuck together and made their stories heard (example)
so if we already have educational funds in place and the government has taken back 500million why do we have to pay for educational funds again and now out of the tiny remainder of 100million of what they left us with. are we to pay for what happened to us, are we being punished again and again. it seems this way. what the hell is going on?
regarding welfare surely the government should just make sure the survivors are housed properly,health care, clothed, fed, support for their dissability.
they never did it for survivors as children they could do it now as they are mostly past it now regarding work.
after all we are not talking a great part of society just a fraction. so the little the government left us should be for what survivors need and that means their promise to listen and hear the problems they have.
mind you though they never promised anything though that is where it is all wrong.
a letter of an apology for each and every survivor would be right.
Welcome to The God Website, like many others your comment is the first of what I hope will be many. Thanks. Paddy.
Paddy
This is my first time writing on your site but on reading the comments about Groups, Funds , Trust Funds and meetings with the Taoiseach and meetings with the Redress Unit , I want to respond to some of the comments made by people on your site .
Firstly, can I say it is very good to read the appreciative comments of people for your efforts and your commitment to keeping people informed even if at times its not what people want to hear. People should be reminded it is actually the only site that provides Survivors with a genuine opportunity to have their say and also to find out information from the media. Your Site is always up to date and is added to by news coverage from the daily papers too. Also I like the way you treat people with respect and endeavour always to answer their comments when it is appropriate to do so.
In contrast I recently stumbled on a site called Ultimate Disposal which was the vilest and angry piece of writing I have ever read. You may be tough and able to take this kind of very personal attacks on you, but I believe if people read it they too will be disgusted. It was shameful and it appears to be written by a fellow survivor. If we start attacking each other like this, there is a danger of the abused becoming the abusers? I hope readers will find out who owns this site and demand an apology to you.
Let me address other issues raised on your site in recent days
Meeting with the Taoiseach
I was at that meeting, along with 20 other people all variously claiming to represent survivors. I was invited there as the Chair of the Women’s Support Group and the Coalition of Support Groups in the UK
Accompanying the Taoiseach were five Senior Government Ministers, some senior civil servants and staff from the Redress Unit.
The meeting lasted an unbelievable four hours and the minutes of that meeting are available and published.
I think it is important to know exactly what the Taoiseach said. His speech runs into three pages and it is with the help of the minutes that
I can highlight exactly his words.
The Government intends that the £110 million cash element of Offers (from the Congregations) will be used to establish a Statutory Fund to support the needs of survivors for general education and welfare purposes as envisaged in the motion adopted by Dail Eireann. The exact nature of the Fund , how it will operate and the uses to which it will be put will be addressed in consultation both with victims representatives and with the Congregations…..Legislation will be needed to establish the Fund ..
You will see by the published minutes what kind of discussion there was. Little of the discussion that followed had any baring on the offer made by the Congregations or the Taoiseah. It seemed to me (and this was my first meeting) that too many of these so called leaders came with their own Agenda.
After the Taoiseach spoke he invited all 20 people present in turn to speak. (A big mistake) The opportunity for all these so called leaders to ask questions and to find out a bit more detail from the Taoiseach about the proposed Fund was not taken up.
Our great ‘leaders’ focused on money and used the four hours to lobby the Taoiseach for more money for their groups, to complain about not getting funding, to complain about other groups, to critise each other in front of all the Government Ministers. I was not proud to be there.
Survivors have a right to respect and have people represent them (or) as you do advocate for them who will respect their role as representatives and act responsibly.
. THEY ARE NOT THERE TO LOBBY FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT. .
The self appointed ‘leaders; got four hours of the Taoiseach and five other Government Ministers time! They did not use it well.
With the exception of Ashling who supported straight away the idea of a Trust, no one spoke in favour of a Fund .However neither did they ask any questions about what this proposed Fund would do. One person walked out, screaming at the Taoiseach so loudly it made everyone in the room jump. How did that help survivors? I heard someone call a senior politician present a ‘gobshit’. And how does that help survivors?
Various ‘leader’s walked in and out of the room to speak to the ever waiting media. They should have stayed in the room and tried to find more information and to attempt to negotiate. Being against a Trust was a valid point of view but beyond saying they were against it -there was no serious attempt to find out what it means. .
The truth is that this was a meeting full of nasty tension and intimidation. I was advised when I arrived that if I was admitted to the meeting there would be a walk out by some others. A few minutes later when you (Paddy ) went to join the meeting there were more threats of walk outs. We both stood our ground if you recall. However no one likes to feel intimidated and when we went into the room the body language, the glairing and the intimidating undercurrents were very upsetting.
What is it with these guys? Why do they find you a threat? Is it because they know you will speak up, be independent and be as you always are a strong persuasive advocate for all Survivors. Well I had enough bullying as a child and like you I stood my ground .
Yes I took my chance to ask intelligent relevant questions about the Fund proposed. I was not there to promote myself,, entertain the media or insult fellow survivors.. I was there to be a voice for Survivors in the UK.
After four hours in which few present actually addressed the proposal on the table you Paddy finally got your opportunity to speak. You had about five minutes at the tail end of four hours of ‘talks’. It is a great shame you had to wait four hours and listen to some appalling representation before you were able to speak. By then both the Taoiseach and the Ministers had four hours of it so you kept it brief.
And for those who might want to critise you and have a go, I know what you actually said and I was very pleased to hear you address some of the concerns ordinary survivors out there have. I was also pleased that because you were not part of a Group you had the freedom to advocate for those without a voice and to restore our dignity and respect at the meeting that until then brought shame and embarrassment.
. Since the Taoiseach provided very little information about the proposed Trust like me you did not express a view but would wait to find out more details. This was a far more sensible and responsible position then bawling out a reaction that cannot advance the cause of survivor’s one iota.
The suggestion by one of your contributors that somehow you knew about the Trust but didn’t say is completely unfair. Even though you do not have to justify anything to anybody, it seems to me that the right thing to do was to wait and see what more information the Taoiseach’s office would provide about the proposed Fund. Taoiseach indicated clearly he wanted his Ministers to get on with it as quickly as possible. The meetings with staff of the Redress Unit last week are the start of that process. What we now learning in dribs and drabs is that it will be a Fund that will be enacted by law.
The term Trust or Statutory Fund appears to be dropped and we have yet to get a clear picture of what exactly the criterion for this proposed Trust is. Wisely and sensibly neither you nor I and a few others at the meeting felt ourselves in a position to give any concrete view. Unless people were expecting you to ‘say something ‘anything’ even if it made no difference. Well thankfully you are one person who doesn’t yap for the sake of being heard. You were right not to comment.
You also dealt with the endless rumours and misinformation been given to survivors by leaders that each survivor could expect £300,000 which is not true and never has been. You raised very important issues around around the long term needs of people with disabilities. You also spoke about the divisions between support groups and the urgent need for unity and for people to work together and the damage it was doing out there in the public eye.
I was proud, pleased and moved by what you said and it seemed to me your few words were of far more value to survivors then the contributions from others that lasted anything up to twenty minutes.
In my view you did another good days work and gave our cause the respect and dignity we deserve.
It is now more then ever essential that your voice remains heard and you are present at any future negotiations.
Future, going forward
It is absolutely clear to date that the Taoiseach and his Government will work towards establishing a Fund. It is becoming even clearer that we are being offered no alternative. Moreover the Congregations handing over this money are also insisting on a Trust .
We need to be saying a lot more then that we are against it. We need to learn exactly what is proposed, contribute to those proposals and above all else we need people on our side who will behave in a mature way, negotiate and try to reach the best possible agreement that will benefit all survivors particularly those of our brothers and sisters most in need of our support.
I am glad the Government and other Authorities find your contribution important and relevant to finding a way forward. I know you will and do fight endlessly to find for survivors a just and fair settlement. I agree also that we all of us have a responsibility to ensure those most in need and most vulnerable as they get older are looked after
. After four hours of being in a room with so called leaders, and after listening to them for the past ten years, I know who I trust to genuinely represent our best interests and it aint them. Keep going Paddy we need you.
Sally Mulready
Chair Women’s Group & Coalition of Support Groups (UK)
Just as I thought Catherine.:)
Regarding people in England wanting a trust fund as stated by Noel Barry. I attended a meeting on the 6th December 2009 held by Mick Waters S.O.C.A.UK. There was not one survivor present in favour of a trust fund. The meeting was attended by Sally Mulready and Phills Morgan from the Irish Centre in Camden Town.
hello paddy , well I hope that we are all your friends in a certain way . But the fact that we can give a bit of air to our thaughts ,is really very helpfull to us , of course we have never met , but i am very gratefull to you for this site .
Paddy,
Thank you for your e-mail 12th June, I read it with interest. I am slow answering because I had to study for my licence to operate a pleasure craft here in Canada, bloody licence’s for everything,I passed 86% I said I was going to fly my kite next week and asked if I will have to get my pilot’s licence. However, this STATUTORY FUND plot proves me right in my e-mails earlier to Margaret Thornton in England. (The groups that say they represent us fought hard to get this fund up and running otherwise with a pay out to all of us would end their money supply.) With respect, Listen to this all of you in case you do not know.(Quote)
end quote. So you see survivors, this was why the B——- who are in denial, saying, they no nothing of it, give me a break. Would someone post a site or an e-mail address to allow us all to access the Irish Govt. I want to let them have a piece of my mind. So if the funds are available to voluntary groups, why we could all, each and every survivor form our own group, myself, president, my wife vice and the kids staff etc.Finally, Ireland may fall under the European funding scheme, I am not sure, but regarding Europe. Quote.( There are lots of different pots of European funding, it a complex and ever changing area, and it is not necessarily appropriate for small community groups. However Community grants (England only)does make accessing European funds easier for small organisations.) end quote.
Hope that small bit of info gets some action from the survivors in England and Ireland.
I question (PUBLIC MONEY)
regards to all. PS, B——- could mean bboaters with two Bs as well.
Seanie.
in 10 years wel.still be on here saying the same things..after the ryan report it was said survivors would be taken care of above everything else..but that was a load of lies…we should be resting up after all thats happend in are lifes rather than fighting a bloody war with goverments and groups..the truth is the goverment want are money to bail out the banks thats the truth bhnd it..and people in groups have been paid off in some way..thats my fix on it…i just get the feeling that some reporter will run a muck with this story some day and alot of people will be put to shame for there part in it..
OH , I forgot to mention one other thing Noel Barry said to me this morning. He saids that it was the people in England who wanted and requested the trust fund. He also said he had been to some meeting in England, however, when I asked him which group he spoke to, he either couldn’t or wouldn’t name them.
Sorry Paddy, I should have combined my 3 posts but I was so annoyed after my phone call to Right of Place Cork. this morning. My head was in a muddle, I couldn’t believe the garbage I was fed.
It was a government decision to have a Statutory Fund and it’s not being called a Trust fund. When I said there was going to be no Trust Fund, I was basing my comment on the opposition to it from the various people at the meeting. Paddy.
I mean ” do you know why and how this out come changed??”
Hi paddy, Can you remember your last meeting with the government were some survivors walked out? After that meeting you stated that there is going to be no trust fund. Why and how did this out come change??
when they read it on paper its impersonal because it was never in there homes to deal with its not personal ! to have been through it is to know how we feel ! trouble is they never been through it ………
im sure theres not many poor ministers ! so what would they care there kids would never have seen the inside of a hell hole ! how could they relate to us ! most kids were from poor or working class backgrounds .thats the real reason the wont listen .WERE NOT IN THERE CLASS !!!
how many times will the goverment and religious be allowed to walk all over us ! so much for any apology it was meaningless and a lie .keep up your good work paddy
So , does anyone know if Mr. Barry was at that meeting last week. I also asked him why I hadnt received notification of the meeting held in Cork on the 18th June. I was was given the same jargon which I got the last time I phoned them (their data base had been interfered with). Then Mr Barry went on to say he didnt have any knowledge of computers. Surely anyone in the position of running any organisation should have some knowledge of computers. I believe we are just being fobbed off with any pathetic excuse they can think up. DISBAND THEM.
I spoke on the phone to Mr Noel C Barry of Right Of Place Cork, this morning. He told me he got no invite to any meeting last week, he also said he hadn’t spoken to any minister in the last 6 months.
I most certainly did point out that judging from the people writing to this website that any kind of Statutory Fund – Trust Fund – would be unacceptable. A question that arises in my mind is: of the so called “representative groups” that spoke to the same people I spoke to. Why are they not giving feedback to the “thousands of members” they claim to have and to speak on behalf of? I respectfully suggest that people contact the various “representatives” and ask them what they heard at the meeting in the Department of Education. Paddy.
paddy i dont believe what i have just read a statutory trust im in shock after what people said after going on your sight did you have any say at the meeting christ you must have said something to what we want we wont let that happen i can rest asure you we wont any coments please ANYONE
if your not representing any one paddy while are you called to meetings…and whats the point of have in a web site where you here survivors views yet never carry them to such meetings and air them out on our behalf…you still haven’t answered my Q …where do you stand on this..in all respect to you id like to no where you stand..are you on the side of a trust fund of do you think survivors should get the money put in there hand…
What can I say Paddy?, I am at a loss for words. However within our ranks are the results of a hunred years of misuse of children. It is to be expected that this damage will manifest itself in various ways such as attacks on yourelf by using my name. The long haul was never to be easy and some will fall by the way.I regret this foul play but what can we do? nothing! except strive on and increase our honesty and tranparency.We live for the good fight and to those with ulterior motives I say”Do not despair, we can even carry your pain on the journey forward for such is the strenght of honesty”. There is an end time for all of this and how we come out of this is mainly a decision up to ourselves.
Hi Paddy, sorry (again) I didn’t have no idea where to place this European hearing info.
Assuming you’ll give it the place wished for.
Please do pass on the info as well.
TYH
greetings
as far as i am concerned this site was made available for the issues on survivors of abuse. i decided to write here because i felt cheated by those useless groups who claim to support us.
GET REAL THERE IS NO SUPPORT NONE AT ALL THAT IS THE TRUTH OF IT ALL.
thanks for this site paddy and your time making it available to us so we can air our views in hope others may write too.
this site speaks for itself and the very survivors who write to it. at least it is open to all. what more can you ask of the man.
please look at the broader picture we have one aim and that is to be listened to once and for all as rose just said.
we can think freely but is it right to have a go at our own who has never promised anything to anyone. we chose to join in and write how we feel.
this site could be closed down if the person who set it up feels like so but no it is open and honest to views of all kinds of people.
yes there is anger yes there is sorrow yes there is pain yes there is suffering but who caused these to happen and what does it take to get answers. no one here can blame this site for anything or the person who set it up.
we have all one aim here to get support for all survivors.
so i do not like reading sad comments of suspicion that gets us no where i never met the man yet who runs this site but i am thankful to him for having the opportunity to write how i see fit ON HIS SITE because i expect to have like minded survivors who feel they have no one to turn to.
if you want a spokesperson then ask someone why does it have to be mr paddy doyle maybe he has enough on his plate if you feel let down on anyway then make your views known. if i ask paddy doyle to be my spokesman then that is my decision and his answer would be personal.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THESE FUNDS ARE ABOUT PERSONALLY BUT I WOULD EXPECT MY LOCAL POLITICAL COUNSELOR/TD TO KNOW. IF THEY DONT KNOW THEN YOU HAVE YOUR ANSWER.
just in case you you do not know what i mean by this if the head of government cannot inform your local area TDs/counsellors then there is something seriously wrong here because if they do not know then
WE HAVE NO LEGAL FUNDING AT ALL/ WE DO NOT HAVE A GOVERNMENT DEAL.
WHEN THE HEAD OF GOVERNMENT MAKE A BILL OR DECISION THESE TDs/COUNSELLORS HAVE TO KNOW OTHERWISE HOW CAN THEY OPERATE THIS COUNTRY.
IF YOU WANT ANSWERS GO TO YOUR LOCAL TD/COUNSELLOR AND DEMAND TO KNOW WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT YOUR COMPLAINT.
at least you have a face to talk to with this pressure on their doorstep they will have to notify the head of government.
you may then have some thing to write here that is constructive.
THINK ABOUT THIS. HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE WRITTEN TO THE GOVERNMENT OR SPOKE FACE TO FACE TO YOUR LOCAL TD/COUNSELLOR I MEAN WELL BY THIS I ONLY HOPE IT WORKS IF NOT THEN NOTE IT HERE WHAT THE OUTCOME WAS. I DID
Somebody sent me an email Charles suggesting that I was dealing with you as “one of my friends”. The same people who wrote that email hadn’t the wherewithal to put what was written on an email to me, tearing me apart, on this site. That’s life. Anyway, thanks so much for you comments, I appreciate them and it helps me to keep this site going. Paddy.
The following is what i e-mailed to enda kenny a few mins ago.
Hello.Mr Kenny,
We had no rights as children, instead we were viciously deprived of our childhood. Now, as adults we still have no voice. Nobody who should be listening, is listening. The present government does not appear to want to know just what it is survivors need. If it did, then every person who went through redress would be asked for their views. There are many many of us out here who are NOT represented by ANY group. I have given my name address and telephone number to one group in particular, but I hear absolutely nothing from them.
As a victim of industrial school abuse here in this country, I was shocked to read the following on the God Squad site.
Is this for real?
Thanks for the kind comments about highlighting the issue of a Trust Fund Andrew. Just as an update, I was asked to a meeting in the Department of Education last Wednesday and was informed that there was no option available other that a “STATUTORY FUND”. It is expected that this will be passed by the Dáil early in the session after the holiday break the the lads and lassies badly need!! It’s a “STATUTORY FUND” and that’s it. Incidentally, I couldn’t be the only person that was told given this information. While I am still and will remain an independent voice, I know for certain the the so called representative groups have been summoned to the Department of Education and given the same information as I was give and as I’ve written here. What wrong with these “self appointed, not mandated representatives” that they are not bringing back such vital information to their members. One could well be forgiven that the “members” are just the figment of some of these “leaders” imagination. Secrecy and more secrecy. Anyway, what I’ve given you here are the facts. I’ve nothing to hide. There will be no vote/ballot as far as I understand. It’s a “take it or leave it” situation. Paddy.
Hoping someone will listen to us.
Rose.
patrick we all write to this site because we need to be heard as no one has raised an eyebrow to the stories here.
i am only fully sure the government/s are aware of this site.
there are so many issues being raised here yes patrick there are a lot of painful stories here but who cares?
we chose to write on this site of our own free will we are not being forced to write here. there is no GROUPIE SITE ANYWHERE WORTH MENTIONING WHO HAVE DONE ANYTHING YET THESE GROUPS CLAIM TO REPRESENT SURVIVORS.
paddy doyle has not claimed to represent survivors we are just trying to get out suffering across but no one will acknowledge or care the proof is the government have taken the money from the religious instead of giving it to survivors even though the ryan report has proven the guilty parties such as the state and religious.
THE QUESTION HERE IS DID THE COUNTRY ONLY RULE 50% AND THE CHURCH THE OTHER 50%
YOU AND THE PEOPLE OF IRELAND KNOW ONLY TOO WELL THE GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FULLY FOR THE ABUSE BECAUSE IT WAS A CHEAPER OPTION FOR THEM TO LOCK US ALL UP IN HELL ITSELF THEY NEVER CARED ABOUT CHILDREN THEN NOR DO THEY NOW TO THEIR TOTAL DISGRACE.
THE 50% THEY PAID FOR THE REDRESS AND NOW THEY SHOULD PAY BACK THE OTHER 50% FOR THE PAST WHERE WE NEVER SEEN A PENNY.
CHILD LABOUR WAS ILLEGAL SO WAS THE NEGLECT SO WAS THE ABUSE SO WAS THE LACK OF WELFARE SO WAS THE CARE OF THE GOVERNMENT WHO RAN THIS COUNTRY 100%.
IT WAS THEIR FAULT THEIR GUILT THEIR RULERSHIP THEIR POLICIES THEIR COURTS THEIR POLICING THEIR CHURCHES THEIR SOCIETY WHO ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN TO CHILDREN THEY SHOULD BE PAYING 100% IF THE REPORTS LIKE THE RYAN REPORTS ARE TO BE RECOGNIZED AS THE TRUTH. OTHER WISE THEY MIGHT JUST AS WELL THROW ALL THESE REPORTS AWAY AS GARBAGE.
If the church and government wont listen, PROTESTS are needed. Not marches but full on PROTEST, with a heavy hand!!!
Paddy, at that meeting did you get to speak, did you tell them about all our views which are posted here. did they mention them, did you tell them what you thought of this ‘statutory trust fund’ which they are hell bent on. Were the groups there when you were, if so, what were their views? please.
Paddy you have allways shown the higest standards in your work for and with survivors. There are many of us who have not had a voice untill you created this site. Nowhere else is to be found a forum where we can meet and air our views. Contrast this to the works of the horse dealers and their bullying ways. As I see it you are my ombudsman and have been a long time even if you do not know it. I live on the european mainland and whatever I know of developments in Ireland is thanks to you and your trojan work.
Thanks for that Charles. Why would I withhold information – to suggest I would as people have done is hurtful and totally uncalled for. Paddy.
Paddy Doyle is not witholding information, He has my confidence. The witholding of vital information is a tactic by the horse dealers to position themselves for the dance around the golden calf. Now how about that petition instead Patrick.
my honest opinon paddy is this …you see what survivors want ..you heard the pain written on this site..and alot was posted this week that was so painful to read..yet you were inform that this joke of a fund was been set up..and its final..i mean did you not say what we want..what is your stand..you say your indenpendent grounds..what good is that..theres no such thing as been on the fence ..there are people sick and in need of money to make life that bit better in years they have lift in this world…theres no middle ground to stand on…i mean what to you think do you think the money should go to a trust or go to survivors direct…im asking you this cause im not sure where you stand…i ask people ..just every day people and they all say give it to the survivors and its only a matter of time before the press and going to jump in again and the irish people will rice up on are behalf….mark my words
I was replying to a specific question I was asked. It’s that simple. I don’t have anything to hide or anything to keep away from people who were abused while in the care of religious orders and the State. I sincerely hope you’re not suggesting that I was being less than honest with people. Paddy.
As your fellow Prime Minister said the other day” Mr Speaker this report and enquiry itself demonstrates how a state should hold itself to account and how we should be determined at all times no matter how difficult to judge ourselves against the highest standards. Openness and frankness about the past however painful they do not make us weaker they make us stronger”. A year after the Ryan report and what do we see?.
am i reading this right paddy…alot of survivors opened up on this site about awful abuse they went true..and how they wanted the this extra money to go to them rather than a trust fund..and while they where posting this over the last few days you already new from a meeting last wensday that the goverment where not granting it….but you let people like ane tell there story and you said nothing till today that you where at a meeting…pleace point out to me if im seeing this all wrong but to me that seems somehow very wrong….
Please close all groups down as they are of no benefit or help to survivors.
So will some good person put up a link with the permission of Paddy petitioning Paddy to be our ombudsman in any dealings pertaining to the welfare of survivors. The template for such a request does not have to be complicated, in fact it can initially be edited to a few words such as “DO IN AN HONEST FASHION THE RIGHT THING BY SURVIVORS”.Now that is no bad start.
Well Paddy if ever there was a need for an ombudsman for the survivors it is now. We have a government not listening and horse dealers waiting in the shadows. Are the funds to be outsourced to private enterprises known for their dubiousness. Withholding this vital information of the calibre you received from the Dept. of Education is one example of this. What I fail to understand is what is to be won by the government in adopting this hard line, it will only serve to infect an already infected situation and upset the many who have no other wish than to be quit this sordid saga and move on to live their lives as they see fit.
How long is this dail holiday break for? Do we have time to organise a march to show them just what ‘We The Abused’ think of their plan for a statutory fund.? Too much time has been wasted we have got to do something ‘NOW’.
No option available other than a statutory fund? Sure there is, give each survivor an equal ammount. Do those people in power take us for complete idiots? Can what they intend to do be challanged in any court? I firmly believe it is the church who is STILL running this country and the so called government is just bowing down to them. When are they going to WAKE UP?
take it or leave it..situation…closed case…what a joke…
if i understand the people whom benifit from these groups were the people who were educated outside golden bridge , so thay had the same teachers as the outside people , how come thay can not read , after all the level of schooling was the same , and aparently they need constant guiding, the question is what happened and why. shouldnt thay be under the responsability of the state
In a democratic system that would work, the current shambolic system….you might well find “members” that never even existed or that have long since departed this planet. Paddy.
Thanks for the kind comments about highlighting the issue of a Trust Fund Andrew. Just as an update, I was asked to a meeting in the Department of Education last Wednesday and was informed that there was no option available other that a “STATUTORY FUND”. It is expected that this will be passed by the Dáil early in the session after the holiday break the the lads and lassies badly need!! It’s a “STATUTORY FUND” and that’s it. Incidentally, I couldn’t be the only person that was told given this information. While I am still and will remain an independent voice, I know for certain the the so called representative groups have been summoned to the Department of Education and given the same information as I was give and as I’ve written here. What wrong with these “self appointed, not mandated representatives” that they are not bringing back such vital information to their members. One could well be forgiven that the “members” are just the figment of some of these “leaders” imagination. Secrecy and more secrecy. Anyway, what I’ve given you here are the facts. I’ve nothing to hide. There will be no vote/ballot as far as I understand. It’s a “take it or leave it” situation. Paddy.
I wonder what the Minister will do about these ‘representative groups’ ? Bear in mind that these groups in question ALL support the so-called ‘Trust Fund’ solution to the Religious Orders ‘Wealth Submissions’ – The Government has yet to ask/ballot victims themselves how to move forward on this issue, yet they are the only ones with the wherewithal to get things moving. They have, after all, the names and addresses of everyone who took some part in the Laffoy/Ryan Commission and especially the Redress Board.
We must stop these ‘representative groups’ building empires on our suffering, our blood, our sweat and tears.
Thanks for continuing to highlight this issue Paddy – you’ve given us a voice on this and the powers-that-be better take note.
well spoken paddy i say this with tears it is a complete reminder of the very same abuse from the childhood if i told the stories of my experiences there it would make your hair stand on end.
please close this group down NOW.
i wrote to enda kenny because i was ignored by the government in power.
especially by the leader of their social protection why PROTECTION WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO HIDE? THE FACT THEY DO NOT WANT TO HELP SURVIVORS?
this arrogant person does not want to recognise the ill health his government has caused survivors, he must actually believe they have no resposibilty toward survivors.
he and his government has slashed the welfare of the state leaving survivors to fend for themselves.
they believe they said sorry they believe they have paid what was due but all they have done is tricked the survivors into a few pennys and told to shut their mouths or else.
ONLY FOOLS WOULD TRUST SUCH A GOVERNMENT IN THE FUTURE THEY HAVE TO BE VOTED OUT AND ALL SURVIVORS MUST HAVE A VOICE TO PROOVE HOW THIS GOVERNMENT ARE TRYING TO WORM THEIR WAY OUT OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP SURVIVORS FROM THEIR ABUSE AND NEGLECT. THEY DO NOT WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH SURVIVORS OF ABUSE. THEY LIED TO THE PEOPLE OF IRELAND ABOUT HEARING AND UNDERSTANDING SURVIVORS NEEDS.
THEIR ANSWER WAS TO TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN THIS IS ROBBERY FRAUD AND ONCE MORE DISGUSTING NEGLECT OF A GOVERNMENT WE NEED RID OF.
to be a member surely one must enter into membership ?
been given millions ?? what !! i was led to belive when i returned to ireland 2 yrs ago now that there was no help to relocate me ! right of place !! i did everything myself no help from no groups and they have all along been given millions to supposedly help people ! how could they do that
Very few if any so called “representative groups” are prepared to disclose the number of members they have. One can only wonder why this is so. Paddy.