Child abuse commission hears of conflict in reports of abuse

THE Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse has heard claims that there is an “unbridgeable gulf” between the findings of school inspection reports and the personal experiences of children at former industrial schools run by the Sisters of Mercy.

Representatives of the religious order yesterday denied that the Sisters of Mercy ran “excessively harsh” regimes at St Vincent’s Industrial School, Goldenbridge, Dublin, and Our Lady of Succour Industrial School, Newtownforbes, Co Longford, despite claims by former residents that some children were regularly subjected to physical beatings.

However, lawyers for former residents who claim they suffered physical abuse at the schools said their experience contrasted with official reports by Department of Education inspectors which reported improvements and good childcare operations.

The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse heard evidence from two nuns that corporal punishment was used to maintain discipline among children at both industrial schools. However, they rejected any suggestion that excessive physical pain was caused to any child in their care.

A controversial RTÉ documentary, Dear Daughter, broadcast in 1996, first highlighted allegations of child abuse at one of the most notorious industrial schools in the country at Goldenbridge, near Inchicore.

Yesterday, Sr Helena O’Donoghue said the order had a deep awareness from listening to survivors of Goldenbridge of the pain and hurt which has resulted from their time at the industrial school and how the experience had impacted on their lives. However, she defended the overall management of the schools which, she claimed, was “committed, dedicated and progressive in many ways”.

“There is ample evidence that the institution was reasonably effective and caring, according to the standards of the time,” said Sr O’Donoghue.

Sr O’Donoghue declined to comment on claims that six former residents of Goldenbridge had died at a premature age within the past 12 months.

Although there were four recorded deaths of children at Goldenbridge during the 1950s, she was satisfied that there was “nothing untoward” in terms of any deliberate harm being caused to any of the deceased. She strongly rejected claims made by Diarmaid McGuinness, SC, that children had complained of being hungry by pointing out that official reports had shown that residents were not malnourished and were given adequate food which improved over the years.

However, Mr McGuinness observed that there was “unbridgeable gulf” between the findings of inspection reports and the personal experience of the children at Goldenbridge.

Another nun, Sr Margaret Casey, accepted that there were many unsatisfactory aspects to the running of the order’s former industrial school at Newtownforbes.

Sr Casey admitted that corporal punishment had been used at the school but said she could not comment on the extent or severity of children being slapped.