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

Emotional abuse

Ten (10) witnesses, three male and seven female, reported that they were emotionally abused by being publicly humiliated and/or demeaned in the following manner: by removal of items of clothing in public signifying ‘disgrace’, having to make public confessions, and being ridiculed in public for bedwetting. ‘There would be a big placard stuck on your back “wet the bed” stuck on it, and there would be a placard out in the yard, a prison yard, and your name would be stuck on that.’

A witness reported that she was ridiculed and shamed for three days as a punishment for breaking crockery. Others described public ridicule for breaking the rule of silence. Another witness described having to make a public Confession each month in front of his peers as punishment for disrupting a class and a female witness gave the following account of her humiliation: Down in the laundry you slaved all day. Most of the day was strict silence.... ...Sr X... would sit on the throne and God help you if you broke your silence. She would report you to Mth ...Y... and you would have to stand when you went in for your food, your chair was taken away and you ate off the floor.... After 3 days you would have to kneel in front of Mth ...Y... and you would have to say these words, I will never forget them: “I beg almighty God’s pardon, Our Lady’s pardon. Pardon, my companions, pardon for the bad example I have shown”. I would then take a bow and ask her could I have my seat back.

Both male and female witnesses commented on the difficulties they experienced when they were leaving the institutions. A male witness stated that there was ‘a label of shame’ attached to those leaving Novitiates and that the remaining residents were told that those who left had their ‘lives destructed’ and subsequently lived in poverty.

Nine (9) witnesses were constantly fearful in anticipation of episodes of further abuse. Three (3) male witnesses from one institution commented that they were vigilant in an environment of threat that was unpredictable and disorganised, where they felt trapped and powerless. It was a big ... (building) ....There was one big room with nothing in it at the time, there was nothing for the lads.. The ...lay authority figure... wielded the baton, he would say “tell me who done it or yous are all getting it”.... It was bleak, no pictures, no TV, nothing. He got me with a bunch of keys and he paralyzed me ...distressed... he got me there ...(demonstrated being punched)... with the bunch of keys.... I later got lashed, he beat me all over... (on the)...legs, back.

The fear of being sent to a more severe environment as punishment was a constant threat for a number of witnesses who had previously been transferred and for others who were aware such transfers were possible. It was clear you were there for the rest of your life. The problem was there was a fear hanging over you because if you went to a Sister to ask for a job outside you could get sent to a worse place. There was a worse place ... that was known about...

One witness also described having to care for babies, including a terminally ill infant, without support, supervision or training. She regarded these expectations as abusive.

Six (6) female witnesses who were placed in residential laundries reported that the loss of liberty, social isolation and the deprivation of identity had a traumatic impact on them. Friendships were discouraged or forbidden, communication was severely limited by the rule of silence and doors were constantly locked. Two (2) witnesses stated that restrictions on their liberty contributed to a feeling of being treated like a prisoner. They described their punishment for breaking the rule of silence as having their head shaved and being made to take meals separately from their peers. When I got there they... (religious staff)... took all your clothes off ...crying.... Cut all your hair off and bandaged you ... (breasts)... up so that you wouldn’t look like a girl, because your body was sin and belonged to the devil. • I was locked up in the...laundry, 6 years I was there. I was told I wasn’t capable of holding down a job. I was put in the middle of older and middle aged women, I cried for weeks and weeks on end, I was a nobody...I was 16.... I was locked away, working 6 days a week in the laundry and in the kitchen on Sunday.... I was never beaten there or name- called.... It was like a prison, the very same as a prison, I done nothing... (wrong)...

Two (2) female witnesses commented that when they were admitted to different institutions at 15 years of age they were ‘given’ a name and that their own name was no longer used. On the day of admission ... the nun said to me “from today on your name is ...X... (not own name)... don’t tell anyone where you came from or who you are”.

One witness reported that, having been observed talking with boys, she was not allowed out of the institution for two years except under supervision to attend healthcare appointments.

The lack of affection and opportunity for attachment was reported by six witnesses who commented on living a suppressed life without adequate and safe care, closeness or demonstration of affection. Witnesses reported feeling disconnected from their family and in some instances were forbidden to establish friendships with co-residents. The lack of positive regard or words of approval was frequently commented on.

Three (3) female witnesses reported that many of their older co-residents who had given birth were constantly denigrated. The ‘constant warning against men’ and the loss of opportunity for age-appropriate social development had a negative impact on their ability to establish relationships later.

Eight (8) witnesses reported being deprived of contact with their families or relatives. Four (4) male witnesses stated that when they were in Novitiates they were not allowed contact with their own family members. The deprivation extended to a restriction on mail and the exclusion of their parents from any involvement in decisions regarding their health, welfare or education. A witness commented that he was ‘firmly dissuaded from an ongoing relationship with my parents’. Another male witness commented that it was forbidden to have pens and paper and another remarked that contact with parents was referred to as ‘scandalous’. Others described the restrictions placed on communication: Your letters were read... (by religious staff)... going out and coming in....One time I wrote a letter ...(saying) ... “I have a very bad headache today” ... I got the letter back...(and was told by religious staff)... “don’t be bothering your mother”.... It was fierce unhappiness, you couldn’t tell anyone...The pressure not to leave was fierce heavy... • Once a month you would be made write a letter. They would be standing over you, everyone wrote the same, you couldn’t tell ... (what was happening).... You were in there and under them and that was it, your family wasn’t let near you....

A female witness reported that her child, who had been in the same institution with her as an infant was later placed in foster care. The witness stated that she was not consulted about the placement and that the arrangements were made without her consent or knowledge.

Knowledge of abuse

The pervasive and public nature of abuse in some institutions, the fact that it was on occasion administered by more than one person raised awareness among staff and residents. Witnesses believed that the structure of the work and the daily routine of some institutions were known to many, both internally and externally. Witnesses gave accounts of being verbally abused themselves in front of others and of observing others being humiliated, threatened and physically punished. Witnesses also gave accounts of disclosing the abuse they experienced both within and outside the institutions. The investigation and response to disclosures of abuse varied.

One witness reported that co-residents were aware of his abuse and intervened to stop a lay staff member physically assault him. Two (2) witnesses, who were abused by more than one person simultaneously, believed that the lay Resident Manager instigated staff and residents to abuse co-residents physically.