Irish Examiner, December 04, 2009, by Seán McCárthaigh
THE Sisters of Mercy have offered to contribute cash and properties worth over €127.5m in compensation to the victims of physical and sexual abuse in former industrial schools run by the order.
The offer by the congregation of nuns – which ran five industrial schools including the notorious Goldenbridge facility in Dublin – is one of the largest contributions by any of the 18 religious orders which ran such residential centres.
The various congregations were criticised for only contributing €128m towards the overall €1.3bn cost of the scheme in a controversial deal agreed with the Bertie Ahern-led Government in 2002.
The Department of Education said it had received the responses from all 18 religious orders which had contributed towards the cost of the compensation scheme operated by the Residential Institutions Redress Board.
The Brothers of Charity also confirmed yesterday they will contribute an additional €1.5m towards the cost of the scheme.
Over €100m in cash and €227m in property have been committed by 10 congregations who have announced renewed offers, while two orders, the Rosminians and Good Shepherd Sisters, have declared they are unable to contribute any more money.
In a statement, the Sisters of Mercy said they were “deeply saddened at the findings of the Ryan report” and expressed regret for the suffering of children in their care.
The order said its contribution consisted of €20m cash to be paid to a trust for former residents as well as properties worth just over €107.5m.
The Sisters of Mercy said properties worth €80.8m would be transferred to the state, with €11.6m being given to the trust for former residents and a further €15m to voluntary groups.
The order, which was criticised in the Ryan report for its harsh and strict regimes, already made an initial contribution of assets worth over €33m to the redress scheme.
Christine Buckley, of Aislinn Foundation and a former resident of Goldenbridge, welcomed the renewed offer by the Sisters of Mercy. However, she expressed some reservation about the size of the contributions to the state and voluntary groups rather than to former residents.
Meanwhile, the Brothers of Charity, which ran a residential school for boys with special needs at Lota in Glanmire, Co Cork, also confirmed they have offered another €1.5m in cash.
The Ryan report found the Brothers of Charity had put the order’s own reputation over and above the safety and care of some of the most vulnerable children in the state.
Last night, the Brothers of Charity issued an “unreserved and heartfelt” apology to anyone who was sexually or physically abused while in their care as well as to anybody whose complaints about their treatment at Lota were not taken seriously or believed.
The order said it had taken into account the number of persons associated with the Brothers of Charity who went before the Residential Institutions Redress Board and the average award made in determining the size of its renewed offer.
A spokesperson for Education Minister, Batt O’Keeffe, said responses from all 18 religious orders had been received after the Government insisted on further financial contributions following the publication of the Ryan report last May.
It is understood Mr O’Keeffe will bring these offers to the Government within the next fortnight.
This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Friday, December 04, 2009
Hi Catherine,
Sent mine too!
The Tree will be up over the Christmas Period!
It should get an airing!!
Thank you Paddy for the Comfort of this Site where Survivors can gather in friendship and Solidarity!
Sent my Christmas card hope it arrives in time to go on the tree.Wishing Paddy family and all who write on Paddy’s site a very Merry Christmas and a healthy happy 2011.
A Xmas tree will be set up daily at the G.P.O Dublin over the festive period in rememberance of ALL victims of clerical abuse in Ireland.We are asking that u send a signed Xmas card please,which will be placed on this tree.
Address card to….
Victims of Clerical Abuse Ireland
27 Whiteacre Place
Ballymun
Dublin 9
Just a reminder that you have to be a member of the Shame of Ireland to take part in the “Activities” of the “Shame of Ireland”
We are “Proud” to call ourselves a “Sister Site” to “The God Squad”!
The Shame of Ireland was set up so that those that read things here can become “Active” about the “Issues” raised HERE!
If only Paddy!..don’t have two halfpennies to rub
together.. lol..Kay
If it’s true that persistence pays you must be a very rich woman Kay!! Paddy
Hi to all
Please use link below to vote for Paddy Doyle to represent “Survivors”
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/mandate-for-paddy-doyle-to-represent-survivors/
Nominations have also started for Kathleen O’Malley
to act alongside Paddy, both to act on our behalf to be “Our Voice” in all dealings with the Irish Government!
To vote Please visit ‘Shame of Ireland’ using the following link
http://shameofireland.co.uk/forum/topics/nominations-for-spokesperson
Many Thanks Kay
Hi William
Thank you very much for your kind comments! all that you say makes perfect sense, pity the Irish Government doesn’t share the same wisdom and compassion as your goodself
Kind Regards Kay
My name is William Byers, I am not a child from these institutions but I have followed the story with a great sadness in my heart for the people who were.
These young children were entrusted to these institutes and the abuse and neglect they have suffered I can not even begin to comprehend.
It seems to me that one evil is clearly leading to another by dictating to the survivors that after what they have suffered it can all be made better by an “education”?? I am honestly completely dumbfounded as an outside person the justice in this.
Do they know that people from all over the world is watching what is happening, and with great outrage. I am totally disgusted with these so call trust funds.
Most of the children of those times are now adults with children and grandchildren of their own. Wouldn’t it be JUSTICE just to award the COMPENSATION that was AWARDED to these survivors to be EQUALLY divided for THEM to better the quality OF THEIR LIVES these institutions DESTROYED?
What use is an education now?? I feel the frustrations of the victims who were NOT heard then and are DEFINITELY not being heard NOW!!!!!
I see no justice just more abuse.
There is a LIVE VOTE to Ratify the Letter on behalf of the Shame of Ireland Members
“I would like to Ratify the Letter to the Charities Section, Revenue Commissioners, with Regard to Right of Place and the Aislin Centre”
Once Ratified it will be sent “from the Members of the Shame of Ireland”
I hope that you are as excited and encouraged by the items above as I am?
If you know of someone who should be a Member of the “Shame of Ireland”
and has not yet joined?
ENCOURAGE THEM to JOIN and TAKE PART!
“DEMOCRACY TRANSPARENCY AND INCLUSION FOR ALL!”
“TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER”
Shame of Ireland is at http://bit.ly/agjWv0
You have to Join to take part in the activities of the Shame of Ireland
ALL are Welcome!
The Petition against the Statutory Fund is still up and will be until the end of the year, If you haven’t signed it please consider doing so?
STATUTORY FUND PETITION @http://bit.ly/9hjMlC
Please get everone you know to vote?
When you vote your vote will not count until you CLICK on the Confirmation Email So Check you Junk Email/ Spam Folder!!
Changing a viepoint is not that terrible dear minister, It’s something people do when they realise they are making a mistake. Try it , it even feels good.
Might I suggest that we write to Senator Norris to find out what went on at the meeting with Mr. O’Brien on the 18th of November 2010. David is a great believer in democracy and wouldn’t want to see any information withheld from us by people purporting to represent those of us that were abused in industrial schools run by the State and the various religious orders. These people don’t have the mandate they claim to have, I can’t find even one comment on this website who favours any of the Irish ‘survivors groups’ meeting with government or religious orders and discussion what should or should not happen with funding allocated to for abuses carried out as outlined in the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Ryan Report).
Senator Norris can be contacted at e-mail info@senatordavidnorris.ie and also at miriam@senatordavidnorris.ie. I will certainly be writing to him and will post my letter on this website. It might also be useful to see if Mr. O’Brien would give us a full account of what exactly he spoke to the good Senator about. After all he does claim to speak “for all survivors” Paddy.
Mandate for Paddy to Represent Survivors
Will all those in favour of Paddy to act as spokesperson please sign petition below
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/mandate-for-paddy-doyle-to-represent-survivors/
Regards to all Kay
I agree Caroline, We all want this put to bed and not dragged on for another 15 years. Why do they make it all so complicated when it doesn’t have to be! Give what’s due to the survivors to the survivors and stop all parasites from feeding off our backs.
A message to those government representatives reading this. The answer to all this is so simple. Stop wasting time, money and energy on pointless trust funds. Distribute the money to the survivors equally so that they can decide what they will do with THEIR COMPENSATION. All you are doing is prolonging the suffering of all the survivors when you could end it in an instant. Wake up, buck up and pay up.
Angry, you are so spot on and you have articulated so well how the majority of survivors feel. But where do we go from here? I certainly wouldn’t mind you representing me.
WHY OH WHY MUST THIS TRUST FUND COME UP AGAIN 99.999%OF SURVIVORS DON’T WANT A TRUST FUND ALL IT IS DOING IS CAUSING ANGER AND FRUSTRATION.
WHAT GOOD IS A TRUST FUND TO US MOST OF US ARE IN OUR 60/70S WE HAVE TO GO BEGGING AND
CRAWLING TO THE PEOPLE RUNNING IT AS FAR AS THE EDUCATION BOARD CONCERNED,I APPLIED FOR A GRANT AND WILL HAVE TO WAIT THREE MONTHS BEFORE IT WILL EVEN BE CONSIDERED.I COULD BE DEAD BY THEN,HOW MANY SURVIVORS PASSED AWAY WHILE THIS TRUST FUND IS BEEN DEBATED I SEE C BUCKLEY MADE HER USUAL COMMENT, HOW MANY SURVIVORS DOES SHE (OUT SIDE HERSELF) REPESENT?
FOR GOD SAKE WHY CANT WE GET WHAT’S COMING TO US AND LEAVE US LIVE OUR MISERABLE LIVES
WITH SOMETHING WE SHOULD TAKE TO THE STREETS ONCE AND FOR ALL.
we have no trust in the Irish trust fund as we cannot trust any thing they say or do as there past record is shameful and there untrustworthy lining there own pockets and I don’t think any body that was not in a home should not be part of this trust
any as for re education us we to old to be educated they failed us in this matter when we wer children NO TO EDUCATION or any trust fund there is no trust in any fund
John Walsh
You cannot approach an “absolute position” which as yet does not exist, there is NO trust fund, there is NO further redress, and therefore nothing to vote on, ergo, there is no convincing reason or principle based on totality of fact which can be used as a yardstick. What we witness is a political steamrollering by the State to monies donated “free gratis” by the religious to be copper fastened by request of the religious that these monies will only be handed over if protected by a “trust fund”. Therein lies the problem, or as is quickly emerging, many problems. It is the broad question in relation to how these monies are used which vexes.
As yet, no clear cut policy or policies have emerged from this legal quagmire surrounding these monies, will it be force or persuasion or common sense which resolves this matter, or will we see a groundswell of opinion emerging to resist all political pressure to get this “trust fund” under way on THEIR terms. And on the States terms it will be a “trust fund” which appears solely designed to maintain the status quo of “group leaders” with their high perks, first class travel, and the ongoing indifference of these people to the wishes and concerns of GENUINE survivors, that monies intended for them no longer swell the pockets and purses of these so called “group leaders” There`s not ONE of them possessed of the necessary credentials to be “called to the bar”, why they take the view that they are capable of dealing with hard nosed politician`s is merely indicative of how intellectually challenged they really are. Trained and skilful negotiators are needed here, coupled with knowledge of the many pit falls which surround “trust funds” solely designed as a matter of political expediency to reduce pressure tailored to meet the needs of the contributing religious orders to get them out from under the cosh of the growing and widespread resentment of survivors that once more concerns relating to us become again clouded in secrecy , as Tom Dick and Harry pretending to “represent” survivors go of half cocked, ill prepared and WITHOUT MANDATE, and seek to engage politicians in debate while nervously fingering the rosary beads in their pockets.
The time has come when recognition to the fact that no longer can morality be compromised for the sake of expediency in the shape of a “quick fix” designed to please nor benefit anybody as a one size fits all policy. We`ve seen, witnessed and heard the injustices of the redress board, the obscenity of meaningless amounts of compensation to many people, sums of five thousand Euro`s going to some sufferers of these gulags while their solicitors collected THREE times that amount for “representing” them. There SHOULD have been a ceiling through which ANY child in these gulags had a minimum expectation of at LEAST twenty five to thirty thousand Euro`s for their sufferings, while the State were quick to fix a “maximum” there was NEVER any discussion of a minimum. This type of injustice evolved as a direct result of “group leaders” lacking trained negotiators to recognise such wide and varied pit falls.
There is abject poverty out there being suffered on a daily basis by many former inmates of these gulags, they continue to fall through the net, I see it regularly. Unless there is a viable and concerted effort by survivors to get this “Statutory” trust fund bill of the political agenda, stop its passing through the Dail and have it offered up for CLOSE AND PROFESSIONAL scrutiny, then no good will come from ANY of it, other than GREEDY and GRUBBY fingers dipping into it on the pretext of “representing” survivors.
A statutory presumption does not afford a “belief” in circumstance providing a defence for ignorance as to the States intention to “ENDOW THE RELIGIOUS” once again by availing the religious of the STATES RESOURCES by acquiescence to the contributing religious orders having the STATE do it`s dirty work, and footing the bill. While the “entertainment” provided by Enda Kennys reply of the other day to this “trust fund” was a welcome interlude , it merely corroborated the ongoing FACT that ELIMINATING INCONSISTENCY within the Dail remains something to be addressed, a conclusion that many erstwhile members of the Dail , while propping the bar up, would consider the aforementioned a PREPOSTEROUS CONCLUSION lacking gravitas as their rate of consumption increased.
I don`t know what Minister is tasked with handling this Proposed Trust Fund Bill, but for the sake of clarity and common sense, the Statutory trust Fund Bill MUST be held in abeyance, removed from hearing, and MEANINGFUL negotiations be employed as to the TRUE intent of EXACTLY what this “trust fund” hopes to achieve. Steps towards that aim are I believe THE ONLY WAY FORWARD.
sorry to go on but we need to recognize the fact that they were older than us so they are now indeed old age pensioners who could be struggling badly, i hope people agree to this. they need the support as there cannot be many still alive.
my question is here how much of this now will this cheating government take of survivors/witnesses money? we all know this money will not be enough to go round, just look at the redress figures, the law society, the government society, the groups society have and will all take their share for what they call costs.
we already had 500 Million taken of us, like a bully takes candy from a baby.
how much will go to the magdalene laundries? since they have received nothing not even recognition for their suffering.
the whole thing is yet again in the government/hse/groups hands, why are they involved? because they care?
not one member of government, church, group, hse, law, lifted a finger to stop the suffering back then so why do they want to handle the money?
we have not received any personal apologies as of yet and all that is, is a letter. the price of a stamp.
they have names addresses phone numbers, statements, etc,etc to be able to know who you are.
their answer so far is you will do as you are told or else.
And you will accept the statuary fund like it or not it is NOT your choice.
HOW MUCH MONEY WAS MADE BY THE RELIGIOUS AT THE HANDS OF THE MAGDALENE LAUNDRIES?
IS THIS MONEY PART OF THE SUM THEY MADE ON THOSE POOR PEOPLE’S BACKS, BEFORE WE ACCEPT THIS, WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE ON THEIR BEHALF.
THEY DID SUFFER TOO.
vote no no no to any trust fund
I hope with this new information brings justice to all and that the government will do what’s right for all survivors , we all need an end to this so we can move on with our lives peacefully thanks Paddy for this site without it we would be left in the dark .
I just do’nt get it. How will properties benifit the victims. Further the greatest criminal order of them all “The Christian Brothers” Are offering further reparation in the order of what?. What exactly is their contribution in financial terms and what are we to do with properties?.
The purpose of the website has always been to bring information to people wherever in the world they may be. Paddy
thanks for publishing this information . its useful for people to know