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Minister for Children 'anxious' to include other homes in redress scheme printable version

25 Jun 2014: posted by the editor - Ireland

Children's Minister Charlie Flanagan told representatives of the Bethany homes Survivors Campaign, and of other Protestant homes at a meeting today in Dublin that that he was 'anxious to include the other homes' as mentioned by the survivors in the Government's redress scheme.

The group is pressing to have the following included in the scheme:

Westbank (aka Mayil) Orphanage Greystones,

Church of Ireland Magdalen Home Leeson Street Dublin (aka Denny House),

Nurse Rescue Society,

Ovoca House Orphanage, Wicklow.

(NOTE: Bethany Home has been included, after years of exclusion from official consideration.)

On the issue of redress, the minister said that was an issue that 'had to be faced', but was one for the inquiry itself to address. Survivors spokesperson, Niall Meehan said: "On that basis, redress has to be within the inquiry's terms of reference, which is the minister's responsibility to include."

Bethany Survivors Chairperson, Derek Leinster, said: "It is positive that the era of exclusion appears to be ending. However, redress for survivors is a priority. The proposed inquiry's investigation phase must not last longer than the lifespan of a single elderly survivor. We need issues to be dealt with simultaneously, not sequentially. The most efficient thing to do would be to reopen the scheme under the 202 Redress Act and admit to it the previously excluded homes, like Bethany Home."

Survivor's asked that the movement of children and pregnant women back and forth over the border be a matter of cooperation with the existing Northern Ireland inquiry, currently having its terms of reference extended. This issue was addressed positively in the cross party debate in the Assembly in NI two days ago.

Survivors gave the minister graphic accounts of personal experience in Westbank and the Church of Ireland Magdalen Home, which they said they wanted acknowledged by the state. They wanted no hierarchy of victims and therefore asked for the exclusion of Protestant experience in the narrative of abuse and neglect to be ended.

The group told the minister they wanted a survivor centered inquiry in which necessary historical investigation into mortality and the vitally important accessing of records did not delay dealing with survivor testimony, acknowledging their experience and dealing with redress, as a priority.

The minister said terms of reference must be completed by July and asked for submissions. The group said they would be sending in a submission based on their statement today.

Bethany Survivors Chairperson, Derek Leinster (who was unable to attend the meeting) welcomed the inclusion of the Bethany Home in the proposed inquiry. However, he called for inclusion of all institutions subject to allegations of abuse or neglect (of whatever denomination or none) excluded from previous schemes. He referred in particular, to the Church of Ireland Magdalen Home (Denny House), its associated Nurse Rescue Society, the Westbank Orphanage (Wicklow) and Ovoca House Orphanage (Wicklow). "All were associated with the Bethany Home", said Mr Leinster.

The group meeting the minister said that the best way in which to accommodate a just outcome is to re-open the 2002 Redress Act scheme and admit excluded institutions. Victor Stevenson said: "Survivors could then document their allegations of abuse, illness, neglect, plus forced and international adoptions. The scheme to remain open for survivors whose claims are dependent on recovery of documents during the investigation phase of the proposed inquiry."

Representatives called for:

Re-opening the 2002 Redress Act scheme and admission of all excluded institutions;

Separation of necessary historical investigations from survivors' (their families and representatives) documented claim for redress, which must be given priority;

A time limited inquiry into sectarian regulation, mortality, associated illness, forced and illegal adoptions, abuse, neglect, inspection regimes, cross border movements of children and pregnant women, movements of children to Britain, the US and elsewhere;

A properly resourced modular or divisional type inquiry in which these elements may be investigated simultaneously and therefore in both an efficient and timely manner;

Handing over of all records of affected institutions to a public body with scheme of access for survivors, their families, and bona fide researchers (with adequate safeguards). This will require legislation.

Tags: Bethany Survivors

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