Dear Sir... Readers' Views (25/11/16)
Church of Ireland has legacy of abuse, too
In his farewell sermon, in 2012, Robert MacCarthy, the retiring dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, said that they had been “lucky that there was no inquiry into sexual abuse within the Church of Ireland — if there had been, I doubt if we would have been found to be blameless”.
This month, Dean MacCarthy said that a woman in his congregation at St Patrick’s, “whose son was abused, kept on agitating about it”. The abuser, Patrick O’Brien, had a more than 30-year association with St Patrick’s, was treasurer of its fund-raising body, and was otherwise a pre-eminent cathedral volunteer.
O’Brien was re-admitted to the cathedral after a 1989 conviction for child abuse. Cathedral authorities reportedly were aware of his activities as early as 1985, when O’Brien privately settled an abuse allegation.
The unknown woman agitating Dean MacCarthy was likely distressed, and distraught by O’Brien’s continuing presence. It was not reported if the dean did anything. The Church of Ireland Gazette reports a difference with O’Brien’s 1989 victim, Kerry Lawless, on when the dean became aware that O’Brien was an abuser.
Lawless demanded, in 2004, that Dean MacCarthy end O’Brien’s association with the cathedral. Five years ago, Lawless contacted as many of O’Brien’s victims as he could locate. On discovery that O’Brien had been convicted in 1989, some victims spoke to gardaí. They caused O’Brien to be convicted on sample charges, leading to a 13-year sentence.
In explaining his actions in an RTÉ radio This Week interview on November 20, Kerry Lawless called for an independent inquiry. He was supported, courageously, by the Rev’d Stephen Neill, of Cellbridge.
The luck mentioned by Dean MacCarthy in 2012 may have run out.
An investigative process should examine why the St Patrick’s cathedral and school authorities failed to warn parents that an abuser might have been in contact with their children. It should examine the role he played in the cathedral before and after conviction. Dean MacCarthy, and others within the Church of Ireland, should be asked to disclose incidents of abuse brought to their attention.
The inquiry should speak to the large numbers of children with whom O’Brien was in contact. It should establish a supportive procedure for as yet undiscovered victims to come forward.
An inquiry must be independent, have victim participation, and official input. Considering his role in helping to put O’Brien away, Kerry Lawless should be asked to participate in drawing up terms of reference.
Impaled hedgehog a worrying crime
We were sickened to read about the hedgehog found impaled on a curtain pole (Irish Examiner, November 15) and struggle to see how this could have been accidental. The pain and fear this poor animal must have felt, probably at the hands of sick thugs, is unimaginable.
Animal cruelty is often associated with people who have done poorly in school, have low self-esteem, and few friends. Many studies in psychology, sociology, and criminology, during the last 25 years, have demonstrated that violent offenders frequently have histories of serious, repeated animal cruelty. Research has shown consistent patterns of animal cruelty among perpetrators of violent crime, including child abuse, spouse abuse, and murder.
Anyone who has any information about this attack should contact Crimestoppers (anonymously, if desired), on 0800 555 111, or the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018. Let us ensure these people have the fullest, most severe punishment possible for carrying out such a cowardly and despicable attack.
If you want to help hedgehogs, please see our website, at www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk, for advice and news.
Palestine’s fairness exploited for years
November 15 marked 28 years since the Palestine National Council, representing Palestinians worldwide, declared the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, thus recognising Israel’s position over 78% of historic Palestine. Israel met this historic compromise with more oppression and dispossession. The number of foreign settlers today exceeds 650,000, as opposed to 180,000 in 1988.
Exacerbating the situation for Palestinians, the Israeli cabinet unanimously passed a bill to legalise settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank which were built on privately owned Palestinian land.
If passed by the Knesset, the law may raise the status of many other such outposts, all over the West Bank, to those of settlements that are ostensibly legal in Israel, but in defiance of international law, which states that all settlements beyond the Green Line are illegal.
This would be the nail in the coffin for hopes of a two-state solution.
The ongoing occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, creates an environment in which children are routinely exposed to violence. In the last 16 years, Israeli occupation forces have killed 2,000 Palestinian children and maimed thousands of others. Israel arrests and imprisons 700 children every year. Israeli state violence against children takes many forms, including beatings, torture, individual attacks and the trauma inflicted by massive military assaults. These serious breaches of human rights, the Geneva Convention, and international laws are condoned by acquiescent western governments and our ‘civilised’ society.
Upwardly mobile in New York
Is it too much to expect that Spiderman, Donal O’Keeffe, and myself all have something in common?
Donal mentions how he ‘walked around Manhattan marvelling (sorry) at the water towers on which I’d seen Spidey fight the Vulture’.
What he does not mention is the World Trade Center. In one movie, which had been due for release in September, 2001, Spiderman swung between the Twin Towers.
When I was in New York myself, back in the 1980s, we would occasionally go to the WTC for a drink after work.
As I remember, it cost less than ten bucks to get to the top floor.
Government must admit water folly
I saw Senator Jerry Buttimer on the Vincent Browne Show on TV3. His concern for people who supply their own water wells was laudable. But if Mr Buttimer had listened to the concerns of the electrate in his own constituency, Cork south central, than he might have retained his seat in the last election.
The Irish people already pay for their water. If Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Fine Geal admit their mistake of having ‘pumped’ (pardon the pun) €80m plus into this debacle, people would understand. But for government politicians to continue with the same Irish argument is an insult to the people, who no longer accept being an easy target.
Children need our help and support
Children have burdens to bear: like bullying, homelessness, being targeted by, or coerced to be part of, gang culture, among other things. Teachers should be able to draw down resources for dealing with children who have psychological issues. Anxiety can afflict children in school. Young people may feel helpless and not be able to cope. This impedes their growth and development.
This isn’t about ‘latch-key children.’ Indeed, if we want nursing staff, and many others who run essential services, and we do, then many mothers will be needed as part of our workplace. Children need support, and psychological provision is part of that. Schools and the health service can be a framework.
We must understand bullying. Our business models and mechanisms of running society benefit the wealthy and deprive us of investment in health, education, research, and infrastructure. We also seem unable to regulate ‘the market’ and to ameliorate conditions so as to stem rising prices in construction and rent, exacerbating homelessness.
We don’t seem to be able to address obvious needs in social provision and in safeguarding the future of our children.
Christmas fatigue
When did it become acceptable to start Christmas celebrations in October? I’m already sick of the word.
It seems as soon as Halloween is over, we ramp into festive mode.
The season is losing all it’s impact and today’s young people experience it as one big shopping opportunity.
Black Fridays and Cyber Mondays, for example.
When did we get so commercial? I’m over Christmas before it’s begun.
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