Abuse memorial – A slap in the face for survivors

An Bord Pleanála’s decision to turn down a memorial to victims of institutional abuse, planned for the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square in Dublin, represents a slap in the face for those who were treated outrageously by nuns and brothers of religious orders under the unseeing eyes of state agencies.

While victims were split on the issue, many will see this as another form of maltreatment at the hands of officialdom. Rightly or wrongly, they will regard it as a sign that modern Ireland has failed to come to grips with the appalling treatment of thousands of children by those supposed to be caring for them. The latest twist in this long running saga will further convince them in that view.

Expectations had naturally been raised that a monument would be erected there because it was recommended by the Ryan Commission and approved by the Dáil. It is worth recalling that the commission’s report found children were treated in the system more like prison inmates and slaves than people with legal rights and human potential. It depicted a shocking scenario of some religious encouraging ritual beatings and shielding the congregations against scrutiny while government inspectors failed to stop the litany of abuse.