We were limited in what we could do, says resident

A CONCERNED resident has jumped to the defence of the midlands village at the centre of the Roscommon incest case in light of hard-hitting suggestions by the trial judge that locals stood by as the neglect and abuse took place.

As the judge’s comments were read out on the Lunchtime with Eamon Keane Show, ‘Kate’ rang in to say she knew the family and that her heart was “broken for the children”.

She admitted that “unless you were blind... you would have been aware of the physical neglect and lack of food”.

‘Kate’ said, however, that the community thought the Health Service Executive were best placed to remedy the children’s lives.

“Because it was a small place most people, while being aware of the situation in that the children were neglected and were at risk, were also aware that the authorities were involved.

“We put our faith in that system and felt that this isn’t happening without anyone knowing,” she added.

“We were limited. You can’t just barge into somebody’s home, you can’t take them into your own home and give them a bath or feed them. You can be kind to them when you meet them and do your best to encourage them in other ways.”

Children’s groups last night demanded an independent inquiry into events at the Roscommon ‘House of Horrors’.

The Government was also called on to step in after it emerged health chiefs failed to protect the six children at the centre of the shocking abuse and that a Catholic organisation helped the alcoholic mother hold on to the terrified youngsters by funding her High Court injunction preventing them from being put in care.

The ISPCC, Rape Crisis Network Ireland, One-in-Four and Barnardos joined forces with opposition parties to highlight the plight of youngsters in need.

Jan O’Sullivan, Labour Party health spokeswoman, said the children had been let down by the state.

“The details of the saga of child abuse, neglect and sexual assault that emerged in the Roscommon Circuit Court are so shocking as to almost defy belief.

“Those who supported and funded this legal action have much to answer for,” she said.

Alan Shatter, Fine Gael’s children’s spokesman, criticised legal constraints imposed on the sentencing judge.

“This tragic case yet again confirms the essential need for the inclusion within our Constitution of a provision which gives express recognition to children’s rights and for the holding of the necessary referendum,” he said.

The ISPCC again called on the Government to draw up plans for a referendum on children’s rights.

Advocacy manager Mary Nicholson said: “It is unacceptable that children abused to this level fall through the cracks created by a constitution that does not truly value children.”

The Rape Crisis Network’s Fiona Neary said incest laws are in need of reform, while Fergus Finlay, of Barnardos stressed it was worrying the judicial approach let these children down.

“While Barnardos knows that working with children and their families to support them to stay together is in general better for children, it also knows that for some children their families are not safe and in fact can be dangerous to their welfare, as in this case,” Mr Finlay said.