Judge told: ‘We just want to be normal kids’

ONE of the young children abused in the Roscommon case told a High Court judge: “We just want to be normal kids.”

It was clear the simple but moving remarks had impacted on Justice John MacMenamin as he described his meeting with the youngsters.

After speaking with the siblings informally and away from lawyers, the judge gave a touching description of their fears and their remarkable dignity.

“What they wanted was that their voices be heard,” he told his Four Courts courtroom, after ruling a report into their case should be made public.

“I should place on record that I consider that the children both individually and collectively are remarkably brave and resilient.

“Most importantly, they wished it be known that they wanted to be able to lead their own lives in a normal way.”

Judge MacMenamin told Courtroom One that, despite their bravery, the children remained vulnerable. They are also fearful about the publicity the report’s release would spark and what was described as some of the sensationalised media coverage surrounding their case.

“Some are reconciled to this, some are not,” said Judge MacMenamin.

One was so disturbed by reliving the nightmare they thought it would be better to live at home than go through the coverage again: “I can’t do it again,” the child said.

Another thing that haunted them was why they were being listened to now when their voices were ignored for so long during their ordeal in the past.

“They asked why they hadn’t been taken seriously. One said: ‘I didn’t want this to happen to me. I now feel scared and frightened’,” the judge said.

Judge MacMenamin said it was “simply impossible to convey in words their sense of anger, hurt, frustration, betrayal and fear”.

“The children should not be asked, as they put it, to relive the experience. They want it understood that they are normal young people,” he said.