Fergus Finlay: We can't apologise enough to survivors of institutional abuse

The casual cruelty in these religious-run institutions, and the steps they took to save money at the expense of the kids, was a form of emotional cruelty that was completely unforgiveable, and if you like, 'unapologiseable' for

Miriam Moriarty Owens from Tralee, 68, and Mary Donovan from Kerry, 57, two of four survivors of institutional abuse who went on hunger strike outside Leinster House last year to demand access to contributory pensions and Health Amendment Act cards in recognition of the State’s responsibility for their treatment in residential institutions. Pictures: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie

I watched the Taoiseach and Tánaiste apologise to survivors of institutional abuse in the Dáil last week, and I found it surprisingly moving. Not so much because of the speeches (they were pretty ordinary, to be honest) but because of the people there. 

The Taoiseach spoke directly to four survivors sitting behind him in the Distinguished Visitors’ Gallery (I’ve written here about those four brave people before), but his remarks were aimed at survivors all over Ireland, people who still struggle to come to terms with what happened to them in their childhood.