Chapter 14 — Children’s Homes

Sexual abuse

Witnesses described the practice in three Children’s Homes of male volunteer workers visiting the Homes. They believed these men assisted the Resident Managers or those in charge by providing help with homework, recreational activities and transport. Some were reported to be constant visitors at weekends and were welcomed by residents because they provided opportunities for contact outside the Home, taking residents to the cinema, swimming and on other outings. Other volunteer workers were reported to be involved on an occasional basis providing children’s parties, holidays and weekends away from the institution. Two (2) volunteer workers were reported to provide accommodation and support during the witnesses’ transition to independent living.

The Committee heard evidence from nine witnesses, eight male and one female, of being sexually abused by eight male volunteer workers, seven of whom were named. One volunteer worker was the subject of two reports of sexual abuse. Witnesses described the male abusers as providing inducements such as outings from the Home, and promises of accommodation and employment following discharge. Two men who were regular visitors to the Home fondled me, they did it to other boys, we all learned to avoid them. One of these men, a constant nightly visitor to help with homework, took me home. He offered me a roof over my head when I left, I had nowhere else to go, there followed sexual abuse ... (rape)... over years.... • There was a visitor... (named volunteer worker) ... who used to come and take you out every 3 or 4 weeks, 3 or 4 boys, they...(lay Resident Managers).. would pick you out, all delighted to have an outing. He would make us all one by one pee in a milk bottle and then fondle us and would afterwards give us a sweet each and tell us we were good boys... • (Named volunteer worker) ... a visitor who took boys out at weekends. We would have to share his bed, then he would masturbate me and try to get me to masturbate him back.

Seven (7) witnesses, five male and two female, reported being sexually abused by older co-residents and ex-residents. The abuse described included rape and masturbation. Ex-residents were reported to return to one Children’s Home where they had unsupervised access overnight to all areas of the Home.

Three (3) female witnesses reported being sexually abused by external priests. Two (2) of the witnesses reported being raped by two named priests when they went to Confession. One witness reported that the abuse continued over a number of years following her discharge from the Home. One male witness was sexually abused by a visiting Brother when he was supervising residents in the absence of the regular staff.

Two (2) female witnesses reported being sexually abused while in placements arranged by authority figures from the Children’s Homes. One reported abuser was described as a ‘foster father’ and the other was a male adult in the witness’s work placement. Both witnesses reported that they disclosed their experience of abuse to the staff in the Homes and one was punished and made to return to the placement and the other witness’s complaints were ignored.

Two (2) female witnesses reported being abused by lay ancillary staff who were employed in the environs of the Homes.

Neglect

Failure to care for the child which results, or could reasonably be expected to result, in serious impairment of the physical or mental health or development of the child or serious adverse effects on his or her behaviour or welfare.11 This section presents witness reports of neglect of their care, welfare and education. Descriptions of neglect refer to all aspects of the physical, social and emotional care and welfare of the witnesses that had implications for their physical, psychological and social development.

The Committee heard 43 reports of neglect from 41 witnesses, 20 male and 21 female, in relation to 17 Children’s Homes. Two (2) witnesses each made reports of neglect in relation to two Homes. Reports included neglect in combination with physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Two (2) of the 17 Children’s Homes were the subject of both male and female reports.

As with the other abuse types the frequency of neglect reports by witnesses varied in relation to individual Children’s Homes, as follows: Two (2) Children’s Homes were collectively the subject of 15 reports. Three (3) Children’s Homes were each the subject of four reports, totalling 12 reports. Four (4) Children’s Homes were each the subject of two reports, totalling eight reports. Eight (8) Children’s Homes were the subject of a single report.

The most consistently reported area of neglect by witnesses in Children’s Homes was the neglect of and inadequate provision for their education. Witnesses also described neglect of their safety and welfare and a failure to provide protection from harm. Reports regarding inadequate food, clothing and neglect of their health were more commonly reported by witnesses discharged prior to the 1970s.

Thirty five (35) witnesses, 23 male and 12 female, reported that their education was neglected. Ten (10) witnesses reported being removed from the classroom to work in or on behalf of the Home and that they were denied any further opportunity to avail of formal schooling ‘I worked out on the farm picking potatoes and carrots – there was no education there’. A witness who reported that she was sent to an external second-level school and was later abruptly withdrawn by the religious Sister stated the following: I loved school, I really, really loved school ... I got as far as ..., I prepared for my Intermediate. I got good reports and everything before that and then the nun suddenly said “you’re not going to stay on in school anymore. Your mother’s not sending any money for books” and they took me out and sent me to work in ... named hospital ... as a cleaner. I was so distraught, that killed me....

Others reported that due to their fear of abuse in the classroom they were unable to learn and that they were denied the opportunity to acquire an education.

Thirteen (13) witnesses reported that they left the Children’s Home with no education or literacy skills. A small number of witnesses reported that their particular learning difficulties were not assessed and that no educational assistance was available to them. They also reported being either ridiculed or ignored as a result of their learning difficulties. I received no education at all. I was seen as retarded because I had ... medical condition.... I cannot now read or write. Silence was the daily code, you were never allowed speak to others. I spent most of the time working hard from an early age. I had no friends and no outside contact with anyone.

Four (4) witnesses who attended class in the local community reported being singled out for ridicule by teachers and pupils. One witness reported ‘We were put at the back of the class and ignored. Nobody played with us. We were told we need have no aspirations above cleaning’.

The neglect of safety and welfare, inconsistent staffing and poor supervision were a frequent focus of witness reports. Twenty eight (28) witnesses, 13 male and 15 female, reported being abused in the absence of supervision by staff. A number of female witnesses reported being cared for at night by older residents, and others reported that they themselves were forced to provide care for infants, without access to or the supervision of adult staff. Six (6) of the witnesses who reported sexual and physical abuse in Children’s Homes stated that the absence of supervision and the lack of consistent staff attention made them vulnerable to abuse. One male witness reported ‘the inadequate supervision of older boys allowed rapes to take place. I was raped on 2 occasions by older boys’. Another describing the difficulty of not being believed or protected by staff commented ‘They changed. It was always changing, a new staff could come today and tomorrow he would be gone ...