Chapter 18 — Residential Laundries, Novitiates, Hostels and other settings

Sexual abuse

Five (5) witnesses described isolated incidents of abuse that happened in an opportunistic fashion over short periods of time. Five (5) other witnesses gave accounts of being abused over a period of up to three years, including the following: We were living in a big dormitory, a kind of cubicle thing...he ... (named religious staff)... came down to me in the middle of the night and started talking to me, maybe once a week or twice a week ....He showed a bit of friendship to me, I remember getting ...(a gift) ... from him, I was delighted at the time.... I think I was going out of my mind, I couldn’t correlate religion and sex...

Four (4) male witnesses reported being raped; in addition there were three reports of oral, vaginal and anal penetration with objects. Two (2) of the witnesses reported being repeatedly raped over a period up to two years by religious superiors who were involved in pastoral, educational and sporting activities. Two (2) other witnesses reported being raped by a visiting professional and by a lay staff member in a position of authority.

Witnesses stated that physical violence, intimidation and threats were used in order to force and restrain them while sexual abuse was perpetrated. Two (2) male witnesses stated that the force used in sexual abuse caused bleeding and injury. Another male witness reported that his sexual abuse by two religious staff was accompanied by violence and inducements. He stated that in order to avoid persistent sexual abuse he was constantly vigilant and careful not to be caught alone with the abuser. He described placing himself with others in the most public position possible in order to protect himself.

Four (4) other male witnesses described contact sexual abuse including forced masturbation by the abuser, fondling of genitalia, and digital penetration. Br ...X... he escorted me to the dressing room. He closed and bolted the door. He started by rubbing my knee first. He then started fondling my private parts. He then masturbated me and made me masturbate him. ... I felt so bad, ashamed.

One female witness gave an account of being sexually abused over a three-year period by an older female co-resident who was otherwise kind to her. The witness described being isolated from her peers and being threatened that she would be sent away if she ever told anyone about the abuse. Another female witness was sexually abused by masturbation and fondling by a priest in the institution where she worked.

The Committee heard evidence from 10 witnesses of being sexually abused by 12 staff and others, including an older resident. Eleven (11) of the abusers were male, five of whom were identified by name. Others were identified by their reported position or status in relation to the institution, as outlined in the following table:

Position of reported physical abusers	Males	Females
Religious
- Authority figure	5	0
- Teacher	2	0
- External priest	1	0
Lay
- Resident Manager	1	0
Visiting professional	1	0
Co-resident	1	1
Total	11	1

Four (4) witnesses gave accounts of rape and violent assault by four named abusers, of whom three were religious Brothers, in addition to a visiting lay professional. Six (6) male religious in positions of authority, two of whom were priests, were reported by witnesses to have abused them by masturbation, fondling and voyeurism. The lay individuals reported by witnesses as perpetrators of rape were identified as a Resident Manager, and a visiting professional. Two (2) witness accounts were heard of sexual abuse by co-residents.

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.4 The witness reports refer to neglect of education, health, welfare and safety and the lack of protection from harm. Witnesses reported that these experiences had an impact on their physical and emotional health and welfare, both at the time and in later life.

The main areas of neglect reported by witnesses from these residential settings were lack of safety and protection from abuse, neglect of developmental and health needs, including neglect of education, inadequate supervision of everyday care, age inappropriate work, and lack of adequate food. Witnesses also said that there was a lack of preparation for transition to independent living following discharge.

Eight (8) witnesses, two male and six female, made reports of neglect in relation to seven institutions. One institution was the subject of two reports and the remaining six institutions were each the subject of single reports.

Five (5) witnesses reported that food was inadequate and insufficient, three of whom described being constantly hungry or ‘starving’. You got bread and dripping. You could not eat it, but it was left there and after 3 days of no food you’d eat it.

Three (3) witnesses stated that their health was neglected. One witness reported that when he was ill his requests for medical attention were ignored and he subsequently required emergency surgery. Two (2) female witnesses reported neglect of other aspects of their healthcare, including no treatment for injuries and burns.

Four (4) female witnesses reported that their education, social development and emotional well-being were neglected as they were constantly forced to work without pay for long hours, with limited time for education or recreation. The lack of safety, adequate food and a supportive educational environment was frequently commented by witnesses. The following witness accounts refer to areas of neglect already mentioned: They called it education, you learned Irish and religion, but none of us could pick it up. There you were, standing up by the wall and you’d get battered again. How could you learn? It was the house of horrors, everyone screaming at night, how can you learn? You were terrified, absolutely terrified. You were “a dope” and “a dunce” and ... (they said)... your mother was no good. ... Then you would go up to the convent and you would be washing their pots, scrubbing the floors. It was like manna there, ...(they had)... the best of everything, their food, ... and you would be starving. I got ...(ill).... I was locked in a room for 3 days. She ...(religious Sister)... would throw you food on the floor like you were a dog... • The first day I was shown the laundry and the next day I was put in it.... I did starching, I did priests’ cloaks, you know the long white things they wear? I did collars, you had to keep ironing them until they become real stiff. There was a little wooden thing you could stand on.... There was a little bit of relief that you got a night’s sleep ... but you knew it was wrong that I wasn’t going to school.

Two (2) male witness reports in relation to one institution described a bleak atmosphere where there was no daily routine. They commented that there was no structure, education or activity programme for residents who were generally unsupervised for long periods. They reported being abused by both staff and co-residents due to the lack of supervision by the Resident Manager.

Witnesses reported that the transition to independent living was difficult due to the isolation from the outside world and lack of preparation for discharge. Four (4) witnesses stated that they were provided with no life skills and no aftercare on leaving the residential institution. A number described being vulnerable to further abuse in circumstances where they had no support, they were confused and unsettled in work and in their accommodation. Witnesses also gave accounts of being neglected and abandoned in some instances by both their family and the institution.