Chapter 14 — Children’s Homes

Emotional abuse

Five (5) witnesses reported that the consistent use of a number rather than their own name deprived them of their individual identity. One witness commented that she did not know the names of other children who were her daily companions ‘only their number’. A female witness reported having her name changed when she was admitted, as she did not have a saint’s name. Another witness described being physically and verbally abused: Sr ...X... used every opportunity to demean me by calling me by my number, prodding me with her large crucifix on her Rosary beads, beating me with a strap for infringements of discipline. She blamed me for the death of a classmate ... for failing to swallow the host at Holy Communion and ... (then)... vomiting, saying “even God doesn’t want you”.

A number of witnesses who had no information about their family or were unaware of their family history commented on the difficulties this created in adult life when they attempted to trace their family of origin. One witness reported that his surname had been changed from his original family name while in out-of-home care. Another witness described inventing a fictitious family history to avoid revealing that he had spent his childhood in an institution. A further witness reported that he was unable ‘to face returning’ to Ireland, in spite of a wish to trace his family, because of the ongoing impact of his childhood experience of abuse.

Knowledge of abuse

Witnesses stated that staff and co-residents were aware of the physical and emotional abuse inflicted on residents due to the fact that it frequently occurred in public and on a daily basis. Witnesses also reported disclosing abuse to their parents, relatives and people in authority, both within the institution and outside, including to Gardaí and other professionals. The investigation and outcome of abuse disclosures varied as outlined below.

The Committee heard evidence from 58 witnesses, 36 males and 22 females, that the abuse they experienced was observed by many people including lay and religious staff, teaching staff in schools outside the Homes, and other residents. A number of witnesses believed that there was knowledge and awareness of abuse as a result of the presence of the following adults and co-residents during the abuse episodes: Other residents 48 reports Care staff 21 reports Authority figures 13 reports Ancillary staff 8 reports Teaching staff 3 reports.

Thirteen (13) witnesses reported that abusive behaviour was a way of life in the Children’s Homes and that they believed staff and residents were powerless to do anything to stop it. Witnesses believed that staff members were afraid of losing their jobs, and co-residents were afraid of being abused or punished themselves if they spoke out against the abuse they observed and experienced. No one in the hospital ever asked what happened to you, the nurses knew from our appearance, we were skinny, they’d say “ah, they are from the orphanage down the road”, no one ever asked.... Other people knew about it, doctors knew about it, nurses knew about it, lay teachers knew about it, other ...male religious staff... knew about it, nobody was prepared to stand up and say, “stop you can’t do that to a child”.... It was complete fear, sheer bully-boy tactics that stopped people, adults were in fear of ...( named male religious staff)... probably. A lay teacher had a job and said “if I report this my job is gone, my income is gone, where am I going to seek work?”.

Eighteen (18) witnesses, 12 male and six female, stated that they disclosed details of their physical and sexual abuse to others during their time in Children’s Homes. Five (5) male and four female witnesses specifically reported disclosing sexual abuse. Witnesses reported disclosing abuse to adults both within and external to the Homes and in some instances to more than one person: Nine (9) witnesses disclosed their abuse to an authority figure in the Children’s Home, including a Resident Manager. Six (6) witnesses disclosed abuse to a parent. Three (3) witnesses disclosed abuse to teachers, Gardaí, staff and siblings. Following discharge there was an inquiry in the parlour where I was interviewed by a group of men, ...named male religious staff... had told me to be very careful about what I would say happened to me, he threatened me. I told them I had fallen over a wall. ... I was in constant fear....

Two (2) male witnesses reported receiving medical attention for injuries and commented that they had been threatened not to tell anyone how their injury occurred. ‘I had been warned by ... named male religious staff... to say I had fallen down the stairs’. One of these male witnesses stated that as an older boy he attended the casualty department with junior residents who were injured following beatings by members of lay and religious staff. He reported being warned not to comment on the circumstances in which the injuries occurred: Nobody said anything, everybody kept themselves to themselves.... You would be told to go back to your bedroom and keep your mouth shut. You couldn’t do very much anyway, you would be that sore the next day after all the beatings ... (associated with sexual assault)... • I remember I got a good cut across the head there, I had to go to hospital. When ever ...named male religious staff... had gone beyond his limit and he knew what he had done required medical attention you ...(resident)... were put in charge of an older guy ...(co-resident)... to go to the hospital.

Witnesses reported a range of responses to their disclosures of abuse including: being protected from further abuse, punished, ignored or not believed. Eight (8) witnesses reported that they were physically punished and threatened following their disclosures of abuse. Seven (7) other witnesses gave accounts of the abuse continuing, with no immediate action being taken. There was a little fellow there called ...named co-resident..., he hung himself since. We did run away one time because of the abuse was going on towards us. We ran to a Garda station in ...named town... and we reported it but there was nothing done about it. We told them what was going on and the kind of abuse that was going on, I knew what was going on was wrong. I remember well one of the guards ...(Gardaí)... picking up the phone and phoning ...named Children’s Home.... We were brought back to the place ...(by the Gardaí).... We went through hell then when we went back, we got more punishment we were put to bed on the spot... An older fellow would say “come on and have a game of football”, you did not know what was going to happen and 2 or 3 of them would kick you around the field or kick you around the yard and say “if ever you go forward and do that again ...(disclose abuse)... you won’t get out of here alive...”. That was one of the reasons you didn’t tell anyone, that was part of the reason why we ran away from there, there was no one to talk to, my parents didn’t come and visit me, no phone calls, no letters. If you went forward and said “I’m after get... (getting)... beaten up”, they would say “you are telling tales”. They wouldn’t want to hear tell of it and that word would be passed on to the head person who was running the place and then you would be in serious trouble.... • I was regularly raped and forced to have oral sex by the chaplain and when I told an old nun what he was doing to me I was punished. She called me the devil’s daughter....

A witness who reported sexual abuse was discharged to the care of his mother and described a subsequent visit from staff of the Children’s Home to his mother’s home: Three weeks after discharge I was visited at home by ...named male religious staff ... and 2 other men who were not introduced. He threatened me, as I had told another ex-resident about the sexual abuse ... perpetrated by named male religious staff..., that I was spreading rumours and said to me “you could go to jail, and never see your mother again. I am in a position to get you locked up and the key thrown away”. • I was left in the infirmary for a long time on my own for telling my father about the ill-treatment, no one was allowed see me there. Sr ...X... pretended to my father that I was sick.

Five (5) witnesses reported it was their belief that following their disclosure the offender was reprimanded or removed. A number of witnesses commented that while they were not aware of any action being taken at the time of their disclosures they later realised that their abusers were no longer working in the Homes. A male witness who reported that his abuse continued for some time after his disclosure stated: I went to a person after a few months after it...(abuse)... continued and it...(disclosure)... wasn’t listened to ... The person I went to was in a very strong position of power in ...named Children’s Home ...he said “no I don’t believe you and anyway keep quiet” .... From that moment on I kept it to myself ... the abuse continued after that for a while and then the Health Board came in ... they spoke to the management. No-one spoke to me, he... (named lay care worker)... was fired ... After he left things improved for me. I always thought in my head someone would come and ask questions but it never happened...

Three (3) witnesses reported that their parents confronted the Resident Managers with the accusations of abuse following disclosures by them. Two (2) of these witnesses gave accounts of being beaten by staff following their disclosures and in the third instance the abuse ceased and the witness was protected from further abuse.

In one instance a male witness reported that a female lay ancillary worker who had physically abused him was herself stripped and beaten in front of all the residents by a staff member in authority. This ancillary worker was believed to be a former resident of the Home.

Witnesses in a number of Children’s Homes in the period prior to the 1970s reported that where abuse was a feature of everyday life they accepted physical punishment as normal. Other witnesses from a small number of Homes and throughout all decades reported experiencing and witnessing severe, unpredictable and unprovoked violence, which they described as both traumatic at the time and as having had an enduring impact on their lives. Witnesses reported a range of responses to such abuse and often reported more than one response: Fifty two (52) witnesses, 27 male and 25 female, reported that they did not know what to do, felt defenceless and withdrew into themselves. Thirty six (36) witnesses, 20 male and 16 female, reported that their predominant response to abuse was fear for their own safety and the safety of co-residents. Nineteen (19) witnesses, 12 male and seven female, reported that they began bed-wetting in response to constant abuse. Eight (8) witnesses, six male and two female, reported running away from the Homes to avoid abuse. Three (3) witnesses, one male and two female, reported that they attempted to harm themselves.

A witness who reported persistent sexual abuse over a number of years stated that his abusive experience led to bed-wetting, and his attempts to discuss his abuse with staff were ignored: ‘We all started wetting the bed, no staff ever asked ‘why are you wetting the bed, what’s wrong with you?’

Positive experiences

Forty nine (49) witnesses, 29 male and 20 female, reported having had positive experiences and some good memories of their time in Children’s Homes. Fifteen (15) witnesses described the kindness of particular religious staff, the absence of punishment, and protection from beatings as positive experiences. Staff were also reported to have demonstrated kindness by providing extra food. Seven (7) witnesses commented on the kindness of two named female religious staff from one Children’s Home. ‘She ... (Sr X)... was elderly and always told me to smile when I was down, I still do it and it works.’