Chapter 14 — Children’s Homes

Physical abuse

Twenty one (21) witnesses, 15 male and six female, from 10 Children’s Homes reported that they sustained injuries from physical abuse. The types of injuries reported included four mouth and facial injuries, three broken bones, and three head injuries which rendered witnesses unconscious. Many witnesses described being left marked and bleeding. One male witness reported being unconscious following a severe beating by two female lay staff and woke up to find a splint on his arm. Another witness gave an account of bruising to his genitalia following a beating.

Six (6) witnesses, four male and two female, reported receiving medical attention following incidents of physical abuse, and three witnesses reporting attending hospital for treatment of injuries. Two (2) male witnesses who reported being severely physically assaulted in one Children’s Home described attending hospital on three different occasions with injuries to their head and stomach.

Two (2) witnesses from two different Homes reported that following severe beatings by male religious and lay care staff two co-residents were never seen again.

Fifty seven (57) witnesses reported that they were physically abused by 67 perpetrators, including religious and lay staff, co-residents and other adults who had access to the Homes. Fifty four (54) reported abusers were identified by name and the 13 who were not named were described by their position or function within the Home. It is possible that there is some overlap between those identified by name and those who were not named. Table 74 lists the position held and number of reported abusers:

Position of reported physical abusers	Males	Females
Religious
- Authority figure including Resident Manager	8	8
- Care staff	1	13
- Teacher	4	4
- Ancillary worker	0	1
- External priest	1	0
Lay
- Authority figure including Resident Manager	2	1
- Care staff	4	8
- Teacher	3	1
- Ancillary worker	1	0
Weekend or holiday placement carer	1	0
Ex-resident	0	1
Co-resident	3	2
Total	28	39

Twenty six (26) of the female perpetrators of physical abuse were reported to be religious Sisters and 14 were religious Brothers or priests.

Sixteen (16) religious staff reported to be physically abusive were understood to be in positions of authority in the Children’s Homes and were given various titles by witnesses including: Resident Manager, Officer in Charge, Brother in Charge, Reverend Mother or as the Head of the orphanage.

Lay care staff, including residential house-parents, were reported to be involved in the everyday living activities in the Homes, and ancillary workers were generally involved in building, maintenance or farm work. One lay care worker described by a witness as ‘the cruelest person’ was reported by two witnesses as constantly beating residents for no reason. Other lay staff reported as physically abusive were teachers, including three school Principals.

A witness reported being beaten by the Resident Manager on both hands with a cane until he was unable to lift his hands. The Resident Manager was also described as regularly hitting children’s heads off the wall.

The Committee heard evidence regarding three Children’s Homes of consistent and severe physical abuse by a small number of named abusers. One male religious staff member was identified by seven witnesses as a perpetrator of severe physical abuse. He was described by witnesses as ‘brutal’ and ‘vicious’. One witness reported ‘He’d beat the living daylights out of you, especially if you had no one to tell’. Physical abuse was constant and worst at night.... (named religious staff X),...slept in the dormitory and used to beat boys for misbehaviour, he used a leather strap and also a strip of rubber.... He was particularly vicious and appeared to gain pleasure from beating boys. I was beaten severely by...named religious staff Y... when I was returned each time after running away following a beating, he would have helpers for the beatings. I saw one boy stand up to... named religious staff Y. I never saw him ... (co-resident)... again. ... Named religious staff Y... beat boys with a leather strap with pieces of lead at the end ... (he also) ... beat boys with a hurling stick and another... unnamed male religious staff ... used catch the boys behind the door in a head lock and beat them with his fist.

Eight (8) female religious and lay staff in one Children’s Home were identified by many witnesses as physically abusive. A number of these staff members were described as particularly harsh in their punishment of residents and some were reported to have immersed residents who wet the bed in cold baths and held them underwater.

Five (5) witnesses, three male and two female, gave accounts of being physically abused by co-residents. Witnesses from one Home reported that older residents took charge of the residents at playtime with, they believed, the consent of staff. This was described as ‘lookout time’ and was reported to be the likely time for sexual and physical abuse.

Sexual abuse

The use of the child by a person for sexual arousal or sexual gratification of that person or another person.10 This section presents witness evidence of sexual abuse ranging from contact sexual abuse including molestation, vaginal and anal penetration to non-contact sexual abuse such as voyeurism. Some witnesses provided detailed and disturbing accounts of the sexual abuse they experienced, other accounts were sufficient to clarify the nature and extent of the reported abuse.

Twenty nine (29) witnesses, 20 male and nine female, reported being sexually abused in 15 Children’s Homes. More than half of the male and over one third of the female witnesses who reported abuse in Children’s Homes reported sexual abuse. Two (2) male witnesses each reported sexual abuse in two Homes.

Witnesses made a total of 31 reports of sexual abuse. The frequency of sexual abuse reported by witnesses varied between Children’s Homes as follows: Five (5) Homes were each the subject of between three and five reports, totalling 21 reports. Two (2) Homes were each the subject of two reports, totalling four reports. Eight (8) Homes were each the subject of a single report.

Sexual abuse was reported in combination with physical and emotional abuse and neglect in 30 witness reports.