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BETHANY HOME SURVIVORS have travelled with former residents of Wicklow’s Westbank Orphanage to Northern Ireland to ask for their cases to be investigated.
They describe themselves as “cross border Protestant orphans” and say they were “unwanted, abused and exploited in Northern and Southern Ireland”.
Today, they are meeting with Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and Ministers and MLAs in Stormont on the issue.
Investigation
They say they want their cross-border experiences of exploitation, neglect and abuse investigated under the Joint Ministerial Council of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement.
They are also calling for answers and redress. Bethany Home closed in 1972, while Westbank closed in 1998. The men and women say that they were mistreated and physically abused in the homes, and that they have suffered long-term effects because of this.
Some have also had issues with recovering documents relating to their identities.
Cabinet is expected to make a long-awaited decision on redress for Bethany survivors tomorrow. Derek Leinster of the Bethany Survivors Group told TheJournal.ie that the group are “now hoping [the Government is] going to do the right thing”.
The bodies of 219 Bethany children lie in unmarked graves in Dublin’s Mount Jerome cemetery, and the Bethany Homes survivors are calling for a memorial to be put up in their name.
According to the groups, the Irish state argues that their unwed mothers abandoned them privately and voluntarily.
The combined Bethany Westbank delegation meeting the DFM and other representatives are: Victor Stevenson, Westbank (mother from Cork, adopted in NI); Patrick Anderson McQuoid, Bethany, Smiley’s Home (mother from Wicklow, adopted NI); Eileen Macken, Bethany, Kirwan House (mother from NI); Betty Honan, Kirwan House (mother from NI, sister in Bethany), as well as Pamela Dooley, UNISON and Chair of NI Committee of ICTU and Niall Meehan, secretary, Bethany survivors.
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Not one comment in two hours, if it had been run by the Catholic Church I would be fighting for a space to comment, hypocrisy ???
I agree, it’s quite gobsmacking the lack of sympathy and outrage for these poor people, they suffered in an institution, no different than if it was a catholic one, they should be given the same support. It just goes to show how dreadful vulnerable children were treated in this country, regardless of their religion.
The children in these homes were badly cared for and neglected but they weren’t being subjected to multiple and sustained rapes by clergy or tortured by nuns. Bethany closed in 1972 decades before any of the Magdalene homes were shut. When it came to paying the victims the catholic religious orders fought tooth and nail to limit their liability. They were bitter right up to the end. They begrudged the victims everything and were furious at being exposed by them as amoral, irreligious demons. If anything the hypocrisy continues to be full square in the catholic church’s court. No surprises there.
Dean don’t you dare try to compare other cases with this one to try and bring the true horrors that went on in these homes away out of the spotlight! This is a protestant case and yet no one seems to give two fecks about these people…. The Protestant church should be be examined now with a fine tooth comb, just like the catholic church cases were are are being done !!
Yes James and lets not let them get off the hook like the RCC. Solidarity and justice for all victims/survivors of clerical rape , abuse and slavery. Expose all clerical criminals living and dead .
Beabad bishop, I agree but it seems too me that the Protestant church isn’t getting much attention from the media ?
James , I suspect Thats because they haven’t raped and abused as many children as Catholic clerics have .
Yes but IT STILL DOES NOT GET ENOGH ATTENTION IN THE MEDIA ! Jesus we can’t continue too keep bringing the catholic church into every other organisations mishaps, ah well the catholic church made bigger mistakes so lets dog them attitude.
Yes let’s dog the catholic paedophile church
Annie go get an education.. Protestant friends of mine were in these institutions and still suffer desperately with what Went n with them when they were being “cared” for
James I wouldn’t belittle the act of CHILD RAPE AS A MISTAKE ! It’s insulting to victims and survivors. It’s not a mistake its a criminal act , and in my opinion anyone who commits such a crime or covers it up should receive the death penalty , Jesus style ,with a millstone tied around their neck and plunged into the depths of the sea.
James it’s a sin to take the Lord’s name in vain. Shame on you.
Don’t worry dean, il get confession on top of croke Patrick on Sunday, thanks for your concern do !
So tell us james are you really a catholic priest as you claimed in posts on other news stories ?
Bethany took in Protestant children, mixed religious and all other religions – as part of Irish society, it must be examined thoroughly regarding the role of all churches and the State. These are Irish people – their religious status is irrelevant.
can we not get back to this actual story Beabad on the Bethany homes and stop bringing up whole different church and cases
My message is simple James Treat all child rapists and their protectors with the same millstone. Justice for all survivors of all clerical abuse . However I think its wishful thinking on your part that the Bethany home crimes
Will distract attention away from the RCC.
have your say