Abandoned by an uncaring state

ERIC CONWAY’S letter of December 17th asserts that an ill defined group he termed the “liberal/feminist commentariat” were, amongst other things, “quite sanguine/blase over Bethany House”.

I have been involved in researching inadequacies in the treatment of women and children in the Bethany Home, and in helping former residents to campaign for redress. In connection with this campaign, residents have been supported by the following TDs and senators: Ivana Bacik, Joe Costello, Tom Kitt, Paul Keogh, Michael Kennedy, Kathleen Lynch, David Norris, Caoimhin Ó Caolain, Fergus O’Dowd, Aongus Ó Snodaigh, Tom Kitt and Michael Kennedy. When details were released of 40 graves of Bethany children in Mount Jerome cemetery Dublin in May and a total of 219 in September, the issue was comprehensively covered in the media.

Are the public representatives, journalists and newspapers responsible in Mr Conway’s “liberal/feminist” rogues gallery? If so he might reconsider the point, not least as I believe they also made statements about, or covered, the deaths of children in state care. Mr Conway’s letter suggested they did not.