Children’s referendum may not be the answer

On more careful reading of the wording of the children’s referendum, it becomes increasingly difficult to believe this referendum will succeed in preventing the recurrence of the horrors of the past.

In fact, it could lead to many more and far worse abuses of children because there is absolutely nothing in the wording to show how children will be protected from the State if it fails in its new constitutional duty towards Irish children.

Nowhere does it say who or what will supply the place of the State in cases where the State or third parties “fail in their duty” towards the nation’s children.

And fail they will, as sure as night follows day.

It is so true that hardly any Irish person needs to be reminded of the horrors inflicted on generations of vulnerable children in the past.

But it is also true that hardly any Irish person needs to be reminded that it was the State and State agents that were primarily responsible in the past for removing thousands of children from their parents and placing them in institutions where they were physically and sexually abused.

Nora Bennis

North Circular Road

Limerick