Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shane Griffin was a passionate advocate for Care Leavers and for children within the care system. He passed away on December 31.

'He passionately wanted to improve things for children in care' A tribute to Shane Griffin

Linda Hayden pays tribute to her friend, activist Shane Griffin, who passed away suddenly on December 31.

ON THE MORNING of the last day of 2019, Ireland lost an important voice.

It lost a voice that gave voices to vulnerable children, it lost a voice that gave voices to adults who had trauma inflicted on them by a broken system, it lost a voice that was telling us where we had gone wrong and what we needed to do to fix it.  It lost a voice that was shouting as loud as it could; but did not feel listened to.  

Shane Griffin was a man who had seen it all when it came to the care system in Ireland. 

Placed in care for the first time aged nearly seven, Shane went on to have over twenty different placements in foster homes and residential care facilities. 

He experienced abuse in the form of physical and sexual violence while in the system.

Most people would not be able to deal with the trauma of the kind that Shane experienced in care, it would have broken them.

But Shane was not most people.

Instead of going down the route of further trauma, dysfunction and addiction, which happens to so many, Shane decided instead to use his experiences to ensure that the system worked, and that no more children would become a victim of it. 

Determined to help others

Shane had a passion for improving circumstances for children within the care system, and for ensuring correct supports were in place for those leaving care.

In relation to his own life, he was trying to piece together the details of his time in care, meeting regularly with Tusla to uncover more information.

He worked with the Care Leavers’ Network and joined the Social Democrats this year, with a view to making a difference somehow.

Shane was inspirational in his way of speaking, critical and challenging of various ministers for Health and Children and Youth Affairs, and went out of his way to help vulnerable young people.

In fact, only four days before he died, Shane was aiding a young homeless care leaver, giving advice and resources to somebody who was in dire straits over the Christmas season. 

He spoke at seminars, came to town hall meetings, asked relevant questions and put young people within the care system, and those who had experienced trauma as a result of it at the forefront of people’s minds.

Shane was tireless and relentless, and managed all this while being a good father and running his own landscaping business.  

Never bitter

You’d think that given his experiences that he would be bitter or angry, but anybody who knew him would attest that Shane was the most positive and enlightened man you could meet. 

He often sent self-deprecating thank you notes to people who gave him a platform, support or who interviewed him, grateful for the opportunity to have a voice and feel listened to. 

His sense of humour and sweet nature meant he endeared himself to nearly everybody he met, however when he had something to say about the issues within the system, he was fastidious in his message.

Shane insisted there could be nobody left behind, and believed that supports should be given with early intervention to ensure that families don’t get broken up in the first place, so children aren’t put into care unnecessarily.

When Shane joined the Social Democrats in 2019, he did so because he believed that a social democracy, where the most vulnerable in society are protected, was the way that Ireland needed to move forward. 

He bore the scars of his childhood

Despite everything he did, Shane did suffer. 

He spoke openly about his mental health and the PTSD he had as a result of multiple and complex traumas he suffered at the hands of a system that was supposed to protect him and others. 

He often spoke of the hills he had left to climb and was looking at new therapies and treatments, all of which seemed out of reach to him due to their prohibitive cost.

Once again, there were no systems in place to help him, and eventually the hills became too big. 

What he wanted was on-going care and therapy for those traumatised by the system, right up to adulthood. 

He wanted early intervention so that vulnerable children and youths don’t fall into the gaping holes that exist within the areas of child protection.

He wanted Care Leavers to be protected and supported, but most of all he wanted no child to suffer as he had. 

We all have a responsibility now to carry on his work.

Ireland has lost a voice; we must ensure that the legacy of that voice lives on.

RIP Shane. 

We have set up this fund to help his family with funeral costs and to build a bit of a fund to support his daughter Haley-Ann. If you can give what you can all donations are greatly appreciated. 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/shane-griffin-memorial-fund?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet

Linda Hayden is the founder of AASVI and Shane Griffin’s colleague in the Kildare South branch of the Social Democrats.

 If you need to talk, contact:

  • Samaritans 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
  • National Suicide Helpline 1800 247 247 – (suicide prevention, self-harm, bereavement)
  • Aware 1800 80 48 48 (depression, anxiety)
  • Pieta House 01 601 0000 or email mary@pieta.ie – (suicide, self-harm)
  • Teen-Line Ireland 1800 833 634 (for ages 13 to 19)
  • Childline 1800 66 66 66 (for under 18s)

 

VOICES LOGO

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
8 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seamus Larkin
    Favourite Seamus Larkin
    Report
    Jan 27th 2014, 10:25 PM

    Terrible comments. We should withdraw our aid from this backward regime until it treats all peoples with human rights.

    163
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Begrudgy
    Favourite Begrudgy
    Report
    Jan 27th 2014, 10:28 PM

    Could say the same about this country.

    85
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ryan Ash
    Favourite Ryan Ash
    Report
    Jan 27th 2014, 10:56 PM

    @ Begrudgy: For all the criticism of this country, I believe we will be within the first 15 countries in the world to legalise gay marriage in 2015 as well as one of the first to legalise adoption by gay couples.

    That is most definitely a better record on gay rights than Nigeria’s.

    104
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marcus power
    Favourite Marcus power
    Report
    Jan 27th 2014, 11:14 PM

    Ryan. ….I hope we can drop the inappropriate. … and dated moniker “gay ” and start just having adoption and marraige as rights in the societies that we live in as citizens. ..taxpayers and residents. …maybe I’m living in a fools paradise ????

    61
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Donny White
    Favourite Donny White
    Report
    Jan 27th 2014, 10:40 PM

    Considering there are more convicted rapists than open homosexuals in Nigeria, I would respectfully suggest the good doctor address the more systemic and evil of the two issues.

    157
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute hjGfIgAq
    Favourite hjGfIgAq
    Report
    Jan 27th 2014, 10:24 PM

    Hi everyone,
    If you could be mindful and respectful while leaving comments on this article, it would be much appreciated. We have a comments policy that can be read here: http://www.thejournal.ie/comments-policy/
    Any racist, homophobic or offensive comments will be deleted.
    Thanks in advance,
    Aoife

    116
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Wallace Friend
    Favourite Wallace Friend
    Report
    Jan 27th 2014, 10:35 PM

    You guys are overzealous with your moderation to the point of censorship.

    108
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Wallace Friend
    Favourite Wallace Friend
    Report
    Jan 27th 2014, 10:31 PM

    Whatever happened to freedom of speech? You might not like what they’re saying (and I certainly don’t!) but they do have the right to say it!

    83
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colm Durkan
    Favourite Colm Durkan
    Report
    Jan 27th 2014, 10:37 PM

    No, you don’t have the right to publicly say that homosexuality is the same as paedophilia.

    173
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Wallace Friend
    Favourite Wallace Friend
    Report
    Jan 27th 2014, 10:42 PM

    Why?

    I’m not saying I agree there exists such a link, but who are you to censor anyone else saying as they please?

    48
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Buster Ó Briain
    Favourite Buster Ó Briain
    Report
    Jan 27th 2014, 10:53 PM

    They can say what they want, and we have the right to criticise it.

    Having the right to say something doesn’t make it exempt from criticism.

    92
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ryan Ash
    Favourite Ryan Ash
    Report
    Jan 27th 2014, 11:05 PM

    @ Wallace: I don’t see anyone seeking to stop the Ambassador’s right to free speech. Merely he is being attacked and criticised for making such an invalid, untrue and hurtful comparison.

    @ Everyone:

    Normally I am not a fan of his, but I think Noel Whelan summed it up pretty well at the weekend in his Irish Times article:

    “Many liberals seem to be afraid to let a conservative position be heard in the debate. Do they lack confidence in their own ability to counter it? It is worrying at this important moment, a year out from when the people will directly decide on the issue, that a pattern has already developed of seeking to edit out opposing views rather than confront and defeat them.”

    http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/readiness-to-hurl-the-word-homophobe-may-not-help-the-liberal-reform-agenda-1.1667387

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Garáiste Ó Churáinn-Seisean
    Favourite Garáiste Ó Churáinn-Seisean
    Report
    Jan 27th 2014, 11:07 PM

    Metro Eireann showed poor judgement giving this man an award . Perhaps they should have considered honouring that gay Kenyan writer Ken Binyavanga Wainaina who came out in the past few weeks in a country that being gay is illegal . Countries who have human rights issues whatever the discrimination should have sanctions placed on aid

    60
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Ryan
    Favourite Martin Ryan
    Report
    Jan 27th 2014, 11:16 PM

    That would be most countries worldwide so can’t see it working somehow.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sammy Sausages
    Favourite Sammy Sausages
    Report
    Jan 27th 2014, 10:49 PM

    I don’t like what he said but I’m not a fan of censorship either (or sending solicitor’s letters to gag people)….. I certainly don’t think this Governor should be in line for any type of an award with such an inhumane view of gay people.

    It’s easy to cater to populist opinions in your country, but it takes bravery and strength of character to say what is right.

    44
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds