Chapter 14 — Children’s Homes

Everyday life in children’s homes

Six (6) female witnesses reported providing care for infants and younger residents in the Children’s Homes. Some witnesses described these responsibilities as inappropriate for their age due to their lack of emotional maturity, the inadequacy of their own care, and the lack of supervision or support provided by staff.

Fifty four (54) witnesses commented on the various opportunities provided for play and recreation. Activities included outings to the sea, cinema, and the availability of television, books and toys. Other types of recreation included Irish dancing, Sunday walks and participation in Gaelic games. Many witnesses reported being encouraged by staff to participate in sport and other recreational activities.

Greater availability of equipment and games, and the opportunity to be involved in activities in the local community were reported by witnesses discharged in the 1980s and 1990s. Witnesses commented that such activities outside the Homes facilitated reintegration on discharge and gave them a sense of connection with the community outside the institution.

Witnesses commented that religion was an important aspect of everyday life and 44 witnesses reported religious practices that included attendance at daily Mass, reciting the Rosary, and attending Sunday Church. ...Named Children’s Home... was modelled on religious life, a very strict regime. The silence was constant except for very short periods, you could speak only if spoken to.

Twelve (12) witnesses, reported visits by adults from outside the institutions including benefactors, the Cigire in the classroom, and others whose identity was not always clear to witnesses. One witness recalled the visit of prospective foster parents who walked up and down a line of residents for the purpose of selecting a child for fostering. Many reported that preparations were made for these visits, which included cleaning the institutions, residents being provided with special clothing and toys, and improvements in food for the duration of the visit. Others commented that the residents were never spoken to during these visits. There was a big flap every now and again when visitors came, some of them were charity people. ... Children in the lower grades were given the toys that were on shelves or on windows and which they didn’t know how to handle and were afraid to do anything with in case of punishment later.

Witnesses commonly reported that they were not adequately prepared for discharge and that the transition to independent living was often difficult. Witnesses, who had been in institutions since early childhood, described feeling abandoned, displaced and lost on leaving the Children’s Homes. Other witnesses for whom family contact had been maintained by visits and holidays throughout their admission generally reported continued family contact following their discharge.

The Committee heard evidence of ongoing difficulties from those witnesses whose siblings had been placed in different institutions or for whom family contact had been restricted or not supported. Witnesses’ evidence of loss of contact with siblings during admission and the subsequent difficulties reconnecting with family members when they were discharged is described later in this chapter. One male witness discharged in the 1980s gave an account of his discharge experience: I was given a bus ticket and told to get the bus, my family lived in ...named town... many miles away. I did not return home as I was not wanted. There was no follow-up by the service. I spent many years drifting.

Witnesses reported being discharged from Children’s Homes to a variety of settings. Nineteen (19) witnesses reported that arrangements were made for them to work in live-in positions with families, or to be placed in hostels where some follow-up was provided. Others reported that they were encouraged to continue their education and were supported in applying for occupational training when they were discharged. Eight (8) witnesses, five male and three female, were discharged to their extended family.

Record of abuse

The Committee heard 65 reports of abuse from 61 witnesses, 38 male and 23 female, in relation to 19 Children’s Homes over the period 1919 to 1992.8 Four (4) male witnesses each reported abuse in two Children’s Homes. Reports of abuse by a witness may be either descriptions of a single incident of abuse or multiple experiences of abuse over a period of time. The Committee heard multiple abuse reports in relation to nine of the 19 homes reported: Six (6) Homes were each the subject of between four and 10 reports, totalling 63 reports (47 male and 16 female). Three (3) Homes were each the subject of either two or three reports, totalling 31 reports (18 male and 13 female). Ten (10) Homes were each the subject of single reports, five male and five female.

Witnesses reported all four types of abuse: physical and sexual abuse, neglect and emotional abuse alone and in combination, as follows: Fifty seven (57) witnesses reported physical abuse. Forty two (42) witnesses reported emotional abuse. Forty one (41) witnesses reported neglect. Twenty nine (29) witnesses reported sexual abuse.

Table 73 outlines the combinations and frequency of abuse types, as reported by witnesses:

Abuse types and combinations	Number of reports
Physical, emotional and neglect	16
Physical, sexual, emotional and neglect	15
Physical and emotional	7
Physical and neglect	6
Physical, sexual and emotional	5
Physical, sexual and neglect	5
Physical and sexual	4
Physical	3
Sexual and emotional	1
Sexual	1
Emotional	1
Neglect	1
Total	65

Fifty (50) witnesses reported that abuse was a regular occurrence either witnessed or experienced on a daily basis. As indicated above, the most frequently reported combination of abuse types by both male and female witnesses were physical and emotional abuse with neglect. The Committee heard 30 witness reports of sexual abuse in combination with other types of abuse.

Physical abuse

The wilful, reckless or negligent infliction of physical injury on, or failure to prevent such injury to, the child.9 This section describes witness reports of incidents of physical abuse, non-accidental injury, and lack of protection from harm. The reports included detailed and disturbing accounts of assaults experienced. The forms of physical abuse included beating, punching, kicking, assault with implements and being immersed in water.

Fifty seven (57) witnesses, 36 male and 21 female, who gave evidence to the Committee reported physical abuse in 19 Children’s Homes. Witnesses made 61 reports of physical abuse over a 70-year period. The number of witness reports of physical abuse in different Homes varied as follows: Two (2) Children’s Homes were collectively the subject of 24 reports. Seven (7) Children’s Homes were the subject of between two and five reports, totalling 27 reports. Ten (10) Children’s Homes were the subject of single reports.

Witnesses reported being physically abused for many reasons or for no reason that they could understand. Many gave accounts of being constantly fearful of physical punishment. Behaviours precipitating abuse included bed-wetting, disclosing abuse, underachieving in the classroom, failure to meet expected standards of personal care and care of their clothing, running away, breaking the rule of silence, taking food, and other perceived misconduct.