Industrial school survivors describe meeting with Taoiseach as  'constructive' but remain on hunger strike

Maurice Patton O'Connell,, Mary Dunlevy Greene, and Mary Donovan. Picture: Gareth Chaney

Four former industrial home survivors who have been on hunger strike outside the Dáil for 43 days have met with the Taoiseach but are continuing to refuse food as fears grow for their health.

Describing the two-hour meeting as "constructive", the group refused Micheál Martin's call to end their hunger strike in advance of talks with a negotiator — saying they fear "broken promises".

Maurice Patton O’Connell, aged 57, from Caherciveen, Co Kerry; Mary Donovan, originally from Kerry but living in Tipperary; Miriam Moriarty Owens, also from Kerry, and Mary Dunleavy Greene all spent time in industrial schools and say they have been failed by the State for the past 26 years.

The four are refusing to eat, surviving on coffee and water. They are insisting they are entitled to a Health Amendment Act (HAA) card and a contributory pension, which they say were promised by the Government but have not been delivered as part of the industrial schools' redress scheme.

The Taoiseach met with the four hunger strikers on Wednesday night in Government Buildings, where they spoke for two hours.

They were joined by minister for education Helen McEntee and six other politicians.

Maurice Patton O’Connell told the Irish Examiner that it was a “constructive” meeting and they are hopeful of a resolution.

“We met the Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Helen McEntee. The Taoiseach asked us to come off the hunger strike," he said.

“He did agree on a few things. We are feeling optimistic, we had a great discussion for two hours. But nothing was resolved."

Mr Patton O’Connell said the Taoiseach has appointed a negotiator who is due to meet the group on Monday in an effort to resolve the outstanding issues.

“He asked us to come off the hunger strike while we await the meeting on Monday, but we said no, because we have had promises broken in the past, so we don’t have enough trust to do that.

I told him we are not backing down, and I am prepared to go all the way, and I said this should never have gotten this far."

The group had already met with Ms McEntee on the ninth day of the hunger strike, but failed to reach an agreement.

“Micheál Martin told us he won’t break any promises and that he does want to genuinely resolve the matter. I think he was genuine, it was a very different meeting,” said Mr Patton O’Connell.

“If the meeting with the negotiator goes well on Monday, we will definitely end the hunger strike, but it all depends on the negotiations.

Mary Dunlevy Greene and Mary Donovan on day 40 of their hunger strike outside the Dáil. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins photos

“We were very clear with the Taoiseach that we are willing to sit down at the table and work it out.

“We made that perfectly clear but like we said before, we are not doing this for four people, we are doing it for the last 4,000 industrial homes survivors.

“We went through hell in those institutions, from beatings to sexual abuse; it is well documented by many of the survivors.”

The four have been sleeping rough in a tent just yards from Leinster House, and medics have been checking on them regularly.

Mr Patton O’Connell said he has lost at least four stone during the protest, which he will see to the end “if I have to”.