10,992 entries for Inspections - State
BackSix (6) witnesses were categorised as experiencing poor mental health, which was signified by depression, hospitalisation, suicidal thoughts, and alcohol abuse. In some instances witnesses reported these experiences being also associated with violence. One witness reported life-long emotional and mental health difficulties that he believed were the result of the treatment and/or abuse he was subjected to in a psychiatric hospital as an adolescent.
Approximately half the witnesses who reported being abused as children in hospital facilities described life-long negative effects of the abuse they experienced, including being hospitalised and treated for depression and suicidal behaviour, abusing alcohol, and experiencing relationship difficulties, social isolation and continued feelings of anger. The nightmares were there but gradually they stopped... I lost me childhood, I lost me schooling, and I lost me confidence.
The following table lists the difficulties described by the 17 male and 14 female witnesses in their adult lives, in order of frequency. They are not mutually exclusive and were not prioritised by witnesses, who could report more than one effect. <br><table><colgroup><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col></colgroup><thead><tr><th><strong>Male witnesses</strong></th>
 <th><strong>Female witnesses</strong></th>
 </tr><tr><th><strong>Effects on adult life*</strong></th>
 <th><strong>Number of reports</strong></th>
 <th><strong>Effects on adult life*</strong></th>
 <th><strong>Number of reports</strong></th>
 </tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Angry</strong></td>
 <td>10</td>
 <td><strong>Abuse not easily forgotten</strong></td>
 <td>10</td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Counselling required</strong></td>
 <td>8</td>
 <td><strong>Anxious and fearful</strong></td>
 <td>5</td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Abuse not easily forgotten</strong></td>
 <td>7</td>
 <td><strong>Lack of self-worth</strong></td>
 <td>5</td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Alcohol abuse</strong></td>
 <td>7</td>
 <td><strong>Counselling required</strong></td>
 <td>4</td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Feeling isolated</strong></td>
 <td>6</td>
 <td><strong>Angry</strong></td>
 <td>3</td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Lack of self-worth</strong></td>
 <td>6</td>
 <td><strong>Tearfulness</strong></td>
 <td>3</td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Mood instability</strong></td>
 <td>6</td>
 <td><strong>Feeling different from peers</strong></td>
 <td>3</td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Aggressive behaviour – physical</strong></td>
 <td>5</td>
 <td><strong>Feelings related to being a victim</strong></td>
 <td>3</td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Lack of trust</strong></td>
 <td>5</td>
 <td><strong>Lack of trust</strong></td>
 <td>3</td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Post-traumatic effect</strong></td>
 <td>5</td>
 <td><strong>Post-traumatic effect</strong></td>
 <td>3</td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Anxious and fearful</strong></td>
 <td>4</td>
 <td><strong>Unable to show feelings to partner</strong></td>
 <td>3</td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Feelings related to being a victim</strong></td>
 <td>4</td>
 <td><strong>Loner</strong></td>
 <td>2</td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Loner</strong></td>
 <td>4</td>
 <td><strong>Nightmares</strong></td>
 <td>2</td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Suicidal feelings or attempt</strong></td>
 <td>4</td>
 <td><strong>Overprotective of children</strong></td>
 <td>2</td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Aggressive behaviour – verbal</strong></td>
 <td>3</td>
 <td><strong>Overly compliant behaviour</strong></td>
 <td>2</td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Feelings related to being powerless</strong></td>
 <td>3</td>
 <td><strong>Sexual problems</strong></td>
 <td>2</td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Nightmares</strong></td>
 <td>3</td>
 <td><strong>Somatic symptoms</strong></td>
 <td>2</td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Overprotective of children</strong></td>
 <td>3</td>
 <td><strong>Suicidal feelings or attempt</strong></td>
 <td>2</td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Sleep disturbance</strong></td>
 <td>3</td>
 <td><strong>Withdrawal</strong></td>
 <td>2</td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Unable to settle</strong></td>
 <td>3</td>
 <td><strong>Alcohol abuse</strong></td>
 <td>1</td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Withdrawal</strong></td>
 <td>3</td>
 <td><strong>Fear of failure</strong></td>
 <td>1</td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Aggressive behaviour – psychological </strong></td>
 <td>2</td>
 <td><strong>Feeling isolated</strong></td>
 <td>1</td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Gender identity and sexual problems</strong></td>
 <td>3</td>
 <td><strong>Feelings related to being powerless</strong></td>
 <td>1</td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Somatic symptoms</strong></td>
 <td>2</td>
 <td><strong>Issues of needing approval</strong></td>
 <td>1</td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Unable to show feelings to children</strong></td>
 <td>2</td>
 <td><strong>Mood instability</strong></td>
 <td>1</td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Unable to show feelings to partner</strong></td>
 <td>2</td>
 <td><strong>Sleep disturbance</strong></td>
 <td>1</td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Tearfulness</strong></td>
 <td>1</td>
 <td><strong>Not applicable</strong></td>
 <td></td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Fear of failure</strong></td>
 <td>1</td>
 <td><strong>Not applicable</strong></td>
 <td></td>
 </tr><tr><td><strong>Over harsh with children</strong></td>
 <td>1</td>
 <td><strong>Not applicable</strong></td>
 <td></td>
 </tr></tbody></table>
The experience of feeling abandoned by parents and family was frequently reported by witnesses in relation to their hospitalisation. Thirteen (13) witnesses, especially those who remained in hospital for a substantial period of their childhood, remarked on the sense of loss they experienced. Several witnesses commented that their admission to hospital was a distressing experience for their parents, and in some instances led to a sense of alienation from the family members who had remained at home. Many witnesses commented that, as a result of being hospitalised, they felt different from their siblings and less a part of their family: I had my own ways of doing things, I was bold...what they... (family) ... would call bold, because in the hospital you had to fight, I had to fight for whatever...to be myself, whatever that was, They ...(family) ... found that difficult. • I remember losing any sense of belonging, or any sense of family at quite an early age. • It was very difficult to fit back into the family when discharged from hospital, I remember being brought home and remember there was a party and I was taken around to each one of them ... (siblings) ... and I didn’t know any of them...distressed...and that was hard.
Witnesses commented that childhood experiences of separation and isolation made it more difficult to form close attachments with their own partners and children. Witnesses who were sexually abused described a particular difficulty in relation to intimate relationships in adulthood. I was very angry with my husband and then I said “He doesn’t deserve this”... I had to let him alone...he was a good man ... I had to look at my own issues... we are still together anyway!
Witnesses who were admitted to hospital from families where there were close and affectionate relationships described being shocked to find themselves both witnessing and being subject to abuse they had not previously encountered. A number of these witnesses described being now fearful of authority and generally more anxious in their adult lives than their siblings who had remained at home. Two (2) of these witnesses commented on the reactivated trauma they experienced when their own children were admitted to hospital many years later.
The lack of formal education combined with years of being treated as a sick and disabled person while in hospital was reported by many witnesses to have had a long-term negative impact on their lives. Alcohol abuse, depression and suicidal thoughts were reported by approximately one quarter of the witnesses as life-long consequences of their childhood abuse experiences. Counselling was reported to have helped some witnesses address issues related to their past.
Children’s education in Ireland is provided for at primary and second-level through the primary, vocational and secondary school system. Attendance at full-time education was compulsory for all children between six and 14 years until 1969 when the official school-leaving age was increased to 16 years. Primary education has been universally free in Ireland since the nineteenth century, and second-level education became universally free in 1967. There are also private fee-paying day and boarding schools at both primary and second-level.1
The majority of primary schools are publicly funded parish schools. Prior to 1975 the schools were managed by an individual manager, usually the parish priest. In 1975 the administration and management of the schools were transferred to boards of management, who included representatives of the parents, teachers, school patrons and the local community. School patrons were usually the local bishops. In recent years multi-denominational and non-denominational schools have been established.
Second-level education is provided through secondary, vocational, community and comprehensive schools. Secondary schools are generally State funded and are privately owned and managed, generally by boards of governors or trustees, the majority of whom are religious communities. Vocational schools are State funded and administered by vocational education committees. Community and comprehensive schools are State funded and managed by boards of management.
This chapter presents evidence given to the Confidential Committee by 70 witnesses, 56 male and 14 female, of their experiences of abuse in schools in Ireland between 1932 and 1992. Witness accounts of the abuse they experienced, the circumstances in which the abuse occurred, and the response of others to the abuse is reported. The information provided by witnesses at their hearings regarding their current life circumstances and the reported impact of childhood abuse on their subsequent physical, psychological and social development is also recorded.
There were 82 reports of abuse by 70 witnesses in relation to 73 different schools over a 60 year period between 1932 and 1992. Fifty five (55) primary schools were the subject of witness reports, 22 of which were mixed gender schools under the auspices of the local parish. A further 33 schools were under the auspices of Catholic religious communities, other denominations and secular management structures.
Eighteen (18) second-level schools were the subject of reports of abuse by 22 witnesses. Fourteen (14) of these schools were second-level schools for boys, two were second-level schools for girls, and two were mixed gender vocational and technical schools. Four (4) second-level schools were each reported by two male witnesses. Nine (9) male witnesses reported being abused in both primary and second-level schools. Twelve (12) of the 22 witnesses reported abuse in second-level schools prior to 1967.
Eleven (11) schools were fee-paying boarding schools, three of which were primary and eight were second-level schools.
The reports related to abuse in 36 city schools, 25 schools in provincial towns and 12 rural schools.