Abuse redress - Listening to victims key to healing

For decades survivors of horrific abuse at our industrial schools have essentially been demeaned as ingrates, because they did not appreciate what the religious authorities running those schools did for them. All that many were asking for was the right to be heard and listened to when they spoke about their abuse.

Christopher Heaphy was invited to speak from the pulpit at Mass in Aglish Church, west Co Waterford yesterday, about the abuse he endured and witnessed within the system. The invitation was a novel way of demonstrating at last that somebody was prepared to listen properly and give credence to those who were seriously damaged.

In May 1999, the Government formally apologised to the survivors on behalf of the State for the collective failure in relation to the abuse. A commission to enquire into child abuse was set up. The enquiry culminated with the Ryan Report, which was published three years ago yesterday.