Institutional abuse survivor on RTE’s Questions and Answers

Posted on | May 26, 2009 | 107 Comments

No words are necessary from me. Just watch (via Liveblog).

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107 Responses to “Institutional abuse survivor on RTE’s Questions and Answers”

  1. fatmammycat
    May 26th, 2009 @ 9:01 am

    Poor man, horrific what those kids went through. You can hear the pain in his voice.

  2. Tomo
    May 26th, 2009 @ 9:27 am

    I’m not particularly squeamish, but I couldn’t watch beyond the first minute. What’s particularly horrifying is that in all likelyhood there’s a group of elderly child rapists enjoying their salad days without a care in the world, instead of being behind bars for the rest of their miserable lives. That this is occuring makes a mockery of so many institutions of a supposedly democratic country, from the gardai, to the justice department, right on up to the old reliables in government, all of whom failed the victims of vicious pedophiles. This is far far worse than the corrupt cronyism that is protecting a bunch of greedy bankers and bribe taking scumbags. It’s a fucking joke, but at least proves once and for all, ireland is neither a free state nor a democracy.

  3. Tony S.
    May 26th, 2009 @ 9:50 am

    Thanks for posting this, Twenty. I missed the
    show but heard about it this morning.

    The solution is simple:

    Kick them (Christian Brothers and their ilk) out, just like the Canadians did a few years ago. Sell off their assets for whetever they’re worth and let all of us pay the rest, whatever it costs (we as a society are culpable too)

    In that way we can go some way to assuaging the pain that people like him must feel.

    I have never felt so ashamed to be Irish; we are no better that those who set up the concentration camps and the Gulags.

  4. morgor
    May 26th, 2009 @ 10:19 am

    Fair fucks to him for explaining the situation so clearly.

    He’s dead right, anyone would agree to change the constitution to make this right.

    I don’t understand why he votes Fianna Fail though….

  5. Tony
    May 26th, 2009 @ 10:22 am

    I feel sorry for the man, but what pisses me off about the whole thing is the ‘best practise’ ‘pursuns’ around all this – they are a pain in the hole.

    The latest catch – phrase they’re using to patronize is “survivors”. So everyone who was bullied in school is a “survivor”? After all, suicides do result from time to time, so what’s the difference?

    It’s getting to the point where do – gooders who don’t give a shite about the victims are giving everyone corny – speak and making the issue a pain in the face. If I hear one more generic blurb I’ll go mad! The sad thing is that people are getting abuse fatigue – yes, it’s taking away from the issue.

  6. Red Leeroy
    May 26th, 2009 @ 10:22 am

    Very upsetting but glad that this is being shared around the tweets and blogs today as it needs to be seen. What a brave man.

  7. We must never forget
    May 26th, 2009 @ 10:23 am

    [...] Twenty. As he said, no words from us [...]

  8. Twenty Major
    May 26th, 2009 @ 10:38 am

    I think you’re over-simplifying it, Tony. Nobody said everyone who goes through bullying is a survivor, I think there’s a difference between that and systematic physical and sexual abuse.

    And how can talking about abuse take away fom the issue of abuse and making those guilty of it accountable for what they did?

  9. Magoo
    May 26th, 2009 @ 10:52 am

    He deserves the chance to put it behind him and try to move on, they should move mountains if necessary to allow them to do that.
    It’s not easy for a man of that generation to come out and say what he has said, he’s very brave.

  10. porridge
    May 26th, 2009 @ 11:29 am

    if you want words for a monument, there they are. heartrending, the pain in that man’s voice and on his face. lucky the ff councillor who turned up last night arrived before i saw that. spent 20 minutes following him from house to house after he tried to run away. watching him squirm and then completely lose the rag in front of neighbours was most gratifying. all self serving cunts like that man said.

  11. sakimotosan
    May 26th, 2009 @ 11:29 am

    It’s a disgrace of the highest order, but as they say, it’s by no means something that has just come to light recently.

    I doubt the panel gave a flying fuck though, they seemed more concerned that some guy was shaming them and their bullshit rhetoric couldn’t answer one thing he asked.

    By the people, for the pension.

  12. Mirzy Pie
    May 26th, 2009 @ 11:31 am

    I watched Q & A last night. I had heard so much in the media over the last few weeks about child abuse in these horrific institutions, but last night brought it home for me. The raw pain in the mans face and voice left me mortified and horrified.

    These children were the most vulnerable in society, with no one in the world to look out for them and these monsters prayed on that. The judiciary, the medical professional, the legal professional, the State, the religious and society as a whole are to blame. This is Irelands Holocaust and we as a whole society must atone for it but the Indemnity must go. Every simgle one of the perpetrators must be named, shamed and serve their time.

  13. eejitmeeja
    May 26th, 2009 @ 11:55 am

    Great Post Twenty, for bringing to a wider audience and knowing that it needed no further comment.

    I think the use of the word “survivor” is an attempt to get away from the word “victim” which might appear to still give the abuser dominion over the abused. I could be wrong on that.

    Whatever they are called, or wish to call themselves however, their stories are a indictment of power corrupting absolutely.

    My only gripe is the media seems to be hungry for more and more tales of abuse, and while we should have to listen to these tales, and face up to the full horror, I would like to see those same outlets getting CORI and others on their shows on the hour, every hour and ploughing through their bullshit excuses and weasel words of regret.

  14. netron
    May 26th, 2009 @ 11:57 am

    jeez.. at work here. tears welling up.

  15. porridge
    May 26th, 2009 @ 12:00 pm

    for anyone in dublin, can sign book of solidarity in mansion house. will be there at friday. going at lunch time

    http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0526/1224247404104.html

  16. porridge
    May 26th, 2009 @ 12:00 pm

    sorry, until friday

  17. el cuno
    May 26th, 2009 @ 12:02 pm

    Once again, confiscation of lands owned by these fuckers and complete seperation of Church and State are the only way the country can rescue itself from this shame. See Fintan O’Toole in today’s Irish Times for a strong argument in favour of same.

  18. netron
    May 26th, 2009 @ 12:04 pm

    totally agree with you el cuno. needs to be done.

  19. Twenty Major
    May 26th, 2009 @ 12:05 pm

    Yeah, it’s a good piece – http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2009/0526/1224247402157.html

    Maybe touching on what Tony was saying above:

    Mannix Flynn, who did so much to break the silence, has warned of the danger of sentimentalising the victims.

  20. Peadar
    May 26th, 2009 @ 12:08 pm

    Fintan O’ Toole is the biggest cunt in the whole wide world. I’m just saying.

  21. Maxi Cane
    May 26th, 2009 @ 12:09 pm

    I missed this completely, off to watch the whole thing now. If I can find it.

    If the consitution “can’t” be changed that just means we’re still being run by the church, which is a pointless comment I know as we’re all aware of that but it just boils my blood to think that we’re still in the dark ages in so many ways.

  22. Twenty Major
    May 26th, 2009 @ 12:12 pm
  23. itchybollix
    May 26th, 2009 @ 12:23 pm

    Send CAB after the reigious. After hearing the PR woman from CORI this a.m. on RTE 1 radio I think they just need to be booted out of Irish society.

    This whole country is corrupt to the core and imploding as a consequence.

  24. maggot
    May 26th, 2009 @ 12:48 pm

    The constitution – Article 42 2 2 – grounds for challenging the deal ?

    The State guarantees not to endow any religion.

  25. Maxi Cane
    May 26th, 2009 @ 1:19 pm

    Thanks for the link to the player, I’ve watched it and I’ve no words left.

  26. Idlebones
    May 26th, 2009 @ 1:45 pm

    Can someone explain to me why we “Can’t” change the constitution? We’ve had 27 Amendments to it since 1937, including the Fifth amendment that
    removed from the Constitution the special position of the Catholic Church and the recognition of other named religious denominations.

  27. John Braine
    May 26th, 2009 @ 1:45 pm

    Was going to do the same post. Powerful stuff and a good capture of the rage most people are feeling.

  28. Holemaster
    May 26th, 2009 @ 1:47 pm

    That man is a hero. And his wife too.

  29. Twenty Major
    May 26th, 2009 @ 1:55 pm

    It’s a word thrown around very easily but I think it’s certainly mertited here

  30. Medbh
    May 26th, 2009 @ 1:57 pm

    The horror.
    My stomach was in knots watching him.

  31. maggot
    May 26th, 2009 @ 2:08 pm

    And let’s not forget his wife – wonderful woman.

  32. Holemaster
    May 26th, 2009 @ 2:12 pm

    We should be on the streets in our hundreds of thousands.

  33. SuperGrover
    May 26th, 2009 @ 2:33 pm

    mmmmm….hundreds and thousands

  34. Peadar
    May 26th, 2009 @ 2:50 pm

    fuck off it’s showery

  35. Holemaster
    May 26th, 2009 @ 2:59 pm

    What you talking ’bout Willis?

  36. Fintan
    May 26th, 2009 @ 3:16 pm

    What a courageous man!

  37. Stephen
    May 26th, 2009 @ 3:23 pm

    Anyone with a blog or a facebook page or whatever the fuck should repost that video. Don’t let the bastards bury it.

  38. divneymathers
    May 26th, 2009 @ 3:27 pm

    That poor man has been carrying this around for so long. It took some courage to speak like that on national TV.

  39. Holemaster
    May 26th, 2009 @ 3:52 pm

    Still only 1150 views, not enough at all. Everyone needs to see that but there’s no many dumb cunts out there who only watch that Anne Doyle slapper at 9pm.

  40. Amsterdammaged
    May 26th, 2009 @ 4:55 pm

    I like one of the comments at the end of Fintan’s article in the Irish Times:

    gadfly55 says:
    “There is only one solution for renewal of the society, purgation of the power elite through political upheaval. The whirlwind now will reap the complacent, the smug, the arrogant, the cynical, the proud, the greedy political class and their lackeys.”

    I’d love to see this happen…
    But who do you turn to?
    What does it take to get the people out on the street? Seriously what does it take?

    If you aren’t angry by now, you haven’t been paying attention!

  41. Francis Mahon
    May 26th, 2009 @ 5:12 pm

    It’s difficult to put feelings in to words at the best of times. I know exactly how that man feels. The abuse he suffered as a child was only magnified and compounded by the way the Commission allowed him to be treated by the legal teams. Being called a liar, having his suffering dismissed.

    What happened to these children was the equivalent to a holocaust, and people have been vilified, prosecuted and even jailed for denying the Jewish Holocaust. To attempt in any way to deny the suffering inflicted by agents of the Church, with State complicity through a conspiracy of silence.

    It brings the recent debate over the proposed revision of the blasphemy laws in to sharp focus. Nothing that the worst hate-mongers could invent would ever be as damaging to the Catholic Church as the truth that has finally been officially acknowledged.

    While the “issue” is at the forefront of the media and public perception at the moment, it has been, is today, and will always be a huge personal issue for all of the people how were abused. The depression, the suicides, various other mental illnesses and personality disorders caused by their experiences. That is the true tragedy, the wounds that can never be healed.

    Finally, as something of an aside, I hold ever member of Fianna Fail responsible for the actions of Michael Woods in sanctioning the sweet deal which limited the religious orders imdemnity. So don’t bother knocking on my door looking for a vote, because I’ll have this video on my phone, ready to replay it for you.

  42. Ibanez
    May 26th, 2009 @ 5:12 pm

    Ill sign the book in the mansion house tomorrow, Ill not vote Fianna fail but apart from that what can we do. Seriously , Im open to ideas.

  43. Holemaster
    May 26th, 2009 @ 5:55 pm

    I want to see a huge gathering the Phoenix Park. I mean fucking huge, one million people to counter the visit of the Pope in 1979 (30 years ago). A purge of sorts. Just gather and listen to some speakers and have a an extended period of silence and then march through the city centre and surround the Dail.

  44. maggot
    May 26th, 2009 @ 6:09 pm

    I think Holemaster has the right idea – it’s the only way. Vote FF out ? What good will that do ? Did FG or any other politicians do anything ? After their term in office people will return FF to power.

  45. sakimotosan
    May 26th, 2009 @ 6:20 pm

    Yep, I have to agree, I don’t think any party give a shit about anything but pinning blame on the other and covering their own arses.

    The same government who would laugh at such ideas of mass reform through protest or otherwise as silly, we are “luddites” to be fair.

    A serious purge is needed, and not just replacing Tweedle-Fucking-Done with Tweedle-Fucking-Will-Do.

    Reading what the people want and declaring it so would also be laughed at by them, yet it’s what put them there in the first place.

  46. maggot
    May 26th, 2009 @ 6:27 pm

    Step forward Bob Geldof ?

  47. HAD ENOUGH!!!
    May 26th, 2009 @ 6:39 pm

    Incredibly brave man! Regards goin out on the streets the Irish are a bunch of sheep who will never rock the staus quo, look at 1916, no public support( granted they where mad bastards). Were stuck to rot and fester in the shallow grave we`ve dug for ourselves over the last ninety years

  48. maggot
    May 26th, 2009 @ 6:41 pm

    1916 ? You ended up with the Ireland they wanted !
    They were the cause of all this.

  49. Self Loathing
    May 26th, 2009 @ 6:44 pm

    Bob Geldof, CUNT! Bono,CUNT!Irish people, CUNTS! Me well etc etc

  50. itchybollix
    May 26th, 2009 @ 6:50 pm

    maggot Says:
    May 26th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
    Step forward Bob Geldof ?

    ye wha?

  51. maggot
    May 26th, 2009 @ 6:59 pm

    I’m sort of half expecting Sir Bob to try for a Child Aid Concert or some such.

    But seriously – with the recession, the corruption and this report – and the responses from the various religious bodies – if the people of the Republic don’t kick up big time then they really will stay shafted for the foreseeable future.

  52. Amsterdamaged
    May 26th, 2009 @ 7:02 pm

    [IMG]http://i398.photobucket.com/albums/pp66/amsterdammaged/800px-Geldof_wall.jpg[/IMG]

    Bob for president I say.
    And I’m not trying to be funny here. Go back and re-write our very constitution. Create a president with real power. Create real, transparent power structures. Have one TD for each constituency. That way we’ll see who’s doing what.
    This needs a root and branch approach to weed out the corruption. And that’s what is needed here. Nothing else goes far enough. All are woes stem from pure greed and corruption.

  53. itchybollix
    May 26th, 2009 @ 7:03 pm

    I sense violence around the corner. 30% of people are pathetic, not apathetic (FF voters, and I’m not kidding there. I work with individuals who vote FF , are they fucking useless? One of them is blaming FG for the state of the nation) 30% can’t be arsed, 30% are pissed and need a shove. 10% are willing and able to do shit. This country needs some anarchy on Kildare Street to make a point and bring the greens across the floor from their “One bad day in power is better than one good day in opposition” shit.

    Where the fuck is Mary Harney lately anyway? I haven’t seen or heard from her in months. Spoofin’ cunt.

    End of rant. But I do think, like the poster in the IT put it, more eloquently(southside cunt), that there is going to be violence over the 18 months. And it could get very nasty. Bertie better emigrate to Nigeria. He could be in The Joy though.

  54. Holemaster
    May 26th, 2009 @ 7:14 pm

    We’re not good at organising ourselves. It’s not in our nature. FF know that and have used it in their favour for generations.

    APATHY!

  55. Every Irish person needs to see this « Esker Riada
    May 26th, 2009 @ 7:26 pm

    [...] on other blogs like Twenty Major and elsewhere but it needs to be seen by as many people as possible. The abusers must pay and have [...]

  56. sakimotosan
    May 26th, 2009 @ 7:48 pm

    The question is, what now?

    Any movement, idea or opinion that can, and should be inferred on the running of our country can be easily spread through the various mediums we have at our disposal.

    I for one would gladly be interested in doing everything I can to make sure that the outrage isn’t quelled (as per usual) with bullshit and disappointment. Rather it should grow, and everything the nation is pissed off about (and there’s quite a lot) should be brought to them and shoved up the governments hole on their way out.

    Any ideas anyone? We can express our disgust till the cows come home, and ye all know it won’t change a blind fucking thing.

  57. johnnypiles
    May 26th, 2009 @ 7:53 pm

    time for our venerated mediocrities to step up and be counted,Bono,the O’Conners{both},Heaney and whoever else in that ‘our tribe’ gang,and the silence from our wonderful champion of yooo-man rites,Mary Robinson is shameful….and what the hell have the nuns got on their former employee Ahern…

  58. Miles O Tool
    May 26th, 2009 @ 8:12 pm

    That was a raw powerful eloquent speech from a decent man. The system and country that allowed it to happen to him and many like him should be deeply ashamed. Pass out the molotovs! The ruling class, government, clergy, establishment, bankers have to be held accountable for all their actions and inactions.

  59. Sheesh
    May 26th, 2009 @ 9:05 pm

    I think there are only 2 reactions that will change anything:

    1. stop giving the Catholic church money
    2. stop giving FF votes, and be very vocal about telling them so (less power = less money for them) – you think they care about why?

    That’s all these people understand, and I do believe that power/money has a lot to answer for in how this stuff could happen in the first place: hit them in the pocket, it’s all they understand or care about.

  60. Holemaster
    May 26th, 2009 @ 9:06 pm

    Violence, tempting as it is will only play into the hands of the establishment. It will give them the excuse to introduce severe laws and use state violence in return. It will also just cause more injustice and physical damage to public property, property we own.

    We need to spook them. The Irish media need to stop pussying around and start dishing the dirt we all know they have.

    We need to know about Bertie beating his wife for example.

  61. Twenty Major
    May 26th, 2009 @ 9:16 pm

    1. stop giving the Catholic church money
    2. stop giving FF votes, and be very vocal about telling them so (less power = less money for them) – you think they care about why?

    1 – This is very true and anyone who put money in a collection plate this weekend should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. But they did it. And they will continue to do it. Despite how widespread the abuse is it’s still something that happened to someone else for lots of people and that makes it easy for them to ignore it.

    2 – I think FF are going to get a pasting in European and locals and in the by-elections too. And still I haven’t had one canvasser at my door.

  62. maggot
    May 26th, 2009 @ 9:24 pm

    I don’t really understand why FF – cunts though they are – shoulder all the blame – FG as C na G set the ball rolling and have never tried to do anything to rein in the Church in it’s various coalitions.

  63. Twenty Major
    May 26th, 2009 @ 9:25 pm

    Here’s another cunt – Marianne O’Connor from Cori

    kbyedx.jpg

    Listen to her on Morning Ireland talking about the congregrations not revisiting the compensation deal – http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0526/morningireland_av.html?2550199,null,209

  64. Holemaster
    May 26th, 2009 @ 9:32 pm

    She’s a Cnunt.

  65. Twenty Major
    May 26th, 2009 @ 9:36 pm

    It’s just easy to maintain the status quo, maggot, and the power and influence they’ve had for so long is only beginning to unravel now.

  66. Paddy
    May 26th, 2009 @ 9:38 pm

    And let’s not forget that the kids were handed over to these ‘religious’ orders by the courts, via other organs of the State.

  67. Holemaster
    May 26th, 2009 @ 9:48 pm

    Some were just three years of age.

  68. maggot
    May 26th, 2009 @ 10:07 pm

    This isn’t sectarian or unionist – small u, I hate the Unionist party – point scoring.

    This is why the Catholic Church has been held in check in the UK – unlike the various Protestant denominations, the Catholic Church though it’s education system and through it’s teachings ( salvation only via the Church, the members of the Church are but sheep and the Church is the Shepherd)could, can and to some extent still does wield extraordinary power.

    Like it or not, Craig and Carson were right – and thank God my part of Ireland was kept out of their clutches. From the Solemn League and Covenant -

    “Being convinced in our consciences that Home Rule would be disastrous to the material well-being of Ulster as well as of the whole of Ireland, subversive of our civil and religious freedom, destructive of our citizenship and perilous to the unity of the Empire”

    Hard to argue other than that they were proven right.

    But where do you go ? Is reform possible when the entirety is saturated with the malign confluence of nineteenth century nationalism and Irish Catholicism ? I suspect that the only fix will need a fresh start, not tinkering with the current system.

  69. Twenty Major
    May 26th, 2009 @ 10:16 pm

    It needs people to look at alternatives to the church, I agree. To shun it completely but it’s going to take generations, I think. It’s so ingrained in society.

    For example – you can not go to mass, participate in any church events, you can get married in a registry office or a non-denominational church, but the minute you die, and this goes for 99.9999% of people, you end up in a church with a priest who never knew you telling people how great you were.

    Shit like that is going to be hard to get away from.

  70. maggot
    May 26th, 2009 @ 10:30 pm

    How likely do you think it will be that the Constitution is rewritten to be more secular and to enable the Church to be stripped of it’s influence, especially in education? I read what Fintan O’Toole had in the Irish Times this morning :

    http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2009/0526/1224247402157.html

  71. eejitmeeja
    May 26th, 2009 @ 11:04 pm

    http://bocktherobber.com/2009/05/questiona-and-answers-clerical-rape-victim-confronts-minister

    Not so much “copy and paste” as “I hope twenty doesn’t read my blog anymore”

  72. eejitmeeja
    May 26th, 2009 @ 11:08 pm

    Here’s what I pan to do;

    I am never voting for Fianna Fail until they show some balls where the Catholic Church are concerned.

    If we need to change the constitution, then fine, give us a referendum, I mean it’s not like we have not had referenda before.

    I don’t do “church” for the very simple reason that there is no God (fact, or at least more factually accurate than some guy in the sky theory) but for those who believe in Jeebus and all his teachings, never contribute another penny to this shower until they cough up their share.

  73. Bock’s Twenty Twenty (Major) Vision «
    May 26th, 2009 @ 11:18 pm
  74. eejitmeeja
    May 26th, 2009 @ 11:26 pm

    whoever did that link thing, I salute you sir.

  75. itchybollix
    May 26th, 2009 @ 11:33 pm

    maggot Says:
    May 26th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
    This isn’t sectarian or unionist – small u, I hate the Unionist party – point scoring.
    ? I suspect that the only fix will need a fresh start, not tinkering with the current system.

    You’re saying we should nuke ourselves. It’d be a start

    *Burp

  76. Ibanez
    May 26th, 2009 @ 11:36 pm

    ive never been so mad in my life. Ive ponced through University, flittered through life and got mad at fuck all for too long. This man should be a symbol. this is real, these cunts did this and now our govt is going to sweep it under the carpet. Not on my watch you cunts.

  77. Nonny
    May 26th, 2009 @ 11:39 pm

    It is shocking. I can never understand why the government backed the Catholic Church in the first place. Why did the state ever enter into compensation agreements and given that some 200+ compensation cases are still pending whilst the state frantically try to make liars out of the victims, why do they continue to back the church? Obviously they don’t want to be dishing out money continually but to go to such lengths to discredit individuals is extraordinary. The church must be handing out some considerable brown envelopes to the government. No doubt all will be revealed soon, then there will be a tribunal that will drag on for so long that when a verdict is finally reached nobody will remember what it was for and the leaders in question will have well and truly retired to nurse their hefty bank balances and state pensions. At a push some back office administrator who may or may not have opened one of the afore mentioned brown envelops will be sentenced to six months for his crime of the most vaguest heinous nature. A 15 million page report will be published making recommendations that will never be adhered to because no member of the Dail or affiliate state body will bother their hole to read it.

    Meanwhile, the poor victims will be left to battle the state, reconcile the childhood robbed from them and deal with all the associated adversities. If abusers where brought to justice and legislation was implemented to ensure this does not happen again the victims could take some solitude. Take state pensions of former ministers, doctors, teachers and garda who knew about it and did nothing, abandon that ridiculous compensation agreement and heavily fine the church. Our state is headed by cowards who can neither agree or take action, sweet Jesus, they are afraid of an old guy in a white dress who never got a ride in his life. How are they suppose to help these victims? How are they supposed to get us out of a recession? We better pray them two boys from Malabraca come back or our pension funds will never see the light of day.

  78. Holemaster
    May 26th, 2009 @ 11:52 pm

    I’ve started trying to do something. I’ve had one letter published in a major national paper and one on the way to the NY Times. I’m going to write to my locals TDs and the President to ask for support to organise a huge gathering in the Phoenix Park during early September.

  79. eejitmeeja
    May 26th, 2009 @ 11:54 pm

    This is an excellent idea….

  80. eejitmeeja
    May 26th, 2009 @ 11:55 pm

    How about 29.09.09, the thirtieth anniversary of JP2′s “Let’s forget we killed my predecessor” Tour

  81. eims
    May 27th, 2009 @ 12:11 am

    I think that anybody that speaks of such abuse is as brave as anybody can be. The fact that a man of his generation can speak so candidly is a credit to him and his family.

    The horrific acts that the church have carried out and are carrying out aren’t being dealt with. We have yet to separate church and state sufficiently. Let’s make sure this doesn’t continue to happen!

  82. maggot
    May 27th, 2009 @ 12:34 am

    I can never understand why the government backed the Catholic Church in the first place.

    What else could they do ? They are siamese twins. Apart from the electoral risks to any Government any attack on the position of the Church would undermine the foundations of the state. Because of the exposure of political corruption, the recession and the revelations in this report all coming together however there is now a possibility for “people power” – I hate that expression – to make things happen – if the Irish People have the balls to stand up and say enough – and/or if there are any politicians brave enough to grasp the nettle. Wasn’t there a Politician – was if a PD – who called for education to be tajen away from the Church a few years ago ?

  83. Twenty Major
    May 27th, 2009 @ 6:43 am

    Not so much “copy and paste” as “I hope twenty doesn’t read my blog anymore”

    To be very fair that video clip is on dozens of blogs/message boards with much the same comment. I think the more people that see it the better and the issue is too serious to be turned into some kind of bitchfest between two bloggers (especially when neither blogger is involved).

  84. Alfie
    May 27th, 2009 @ 6:44 am

    King Henery VIII, had the right idea burn and demolish the lot,we have had very little throuble from them catliks since,apart from bloody Mary.

  85. Nonny
    May 27th, 2009 @ 8:57 am

    Maggot why are they “Siamese twins” we are a secular state? The only thing that would explain it is money. The government get money of the CC and the CC get to groom future parishioners for exploitation.

  86. maggot
    May 27th, 2009 @ 11:11 am

    Nonny – Irish republicanism ceased to be secular in the 1790s. Faith and Fatherland and all that.

    DeValera said in his 1935 St patrick Day address

    “Since the coming of St. Patrick 1500 years ago Ireland has been a Christian and a Catholic nation . . . she remains a Catholic nation”.

    In 1948 Costello, having displaced De Valera in government, wrote to the new pope :

    “on the occasion of our assumption of office……my colleagues and myself desire to repose at the feet of your holiness the assurance of our filial loyalty and our devotion to your August person”

    After the Mother and Child bill Costello as Taoiseach said – in a speech supposedly written by McQuaid -

    “As a Catholic, I obey my Church authorities, and will continue to do so,”

    Today the Church is still heavily involved in controlling education and healthcare, The state broadcaster RTE still broadcasts the Angelus and a secular state would not start it’s constitution

    In the Name of the Most Holy Trinity, from Whom is all authority and to Whom, as our final end, all actions both of men and States must be referred

  87. Holemaster
    May 27th, 2009 @ 12:03 pm

    Maggot’s right. The Catholic faith is intertwined and many professionals and politicians are members of Opus Dei and they make it their business to promote the Catholic faith wherever they go.

    The time to end it has come.

  88. maggot
    May 27th, 2009 @ 12:24 pm

    One other point – establishing a truly secular state would do a lot towards making Unification possible.

  89. Twenty Major
    May 27th, 2009 @ 12:48 pm

    Did anyone hear Mannix Flynn on Newstalk? He was excellent. Talking about how the state was essentially indemnifying itself by doing the deal with the church – taking the focus off their part in it.

    State sponsored torture, he called it, and he’s right.

    Also, he said everyone’s focussing on the issue of compensation when he, and others, don’t want money. They want justice.

  90. maggot
    May 27th, 2009 @ 1:01 pm

    Twenty – needs to be remembered that for all it;s claims of spirituality the Church is big business – funny how despite claims earlier that they would go broke the various orders now say they could make other resources available – and the best way to punish them in the short term is via their pockets.

  91. netron
    May 27th, 2009 @ 1:27 pm

    that vid is now up to over 28,000 views.

    spread it folks – EVERYONE IN IRELAND SHOULD SEE IT.

  92. Holemaster
    May 27th, 2009 @ 1:35 pm

    I think most people know that the victims don’t want money. But we all want to see them punished and to take away their wealth would be a good start along that path.

  93. netron
    May 27th, 2009 @ 1:35 pm

    “he said everyone’s focussing on the issue of compensation”

    yeah – tell me about it.. i swear i’ll f**king scream if i hear another radio news item on compensation…

    the victims want JUSTICE. the paedo fuckers put on trial , prosecuted and sent to JAIL…

  94. Holemaster
    May 27th, 2009 @ 1:36 pm

    In fact, to sell all their wealth and burn the cash in front of them would be perfect.

  95. johnnypiles
    May 27th, 2009 @ 1:37 pm

    Mannix is THE MAN,make him President,I say.A gathering in the park a great idea,Holemaster,make that your project,I’l be with you all the way..

  96. netron
    May 27th, 2009 @ 3:05 pm

    gathering in the park?

    how about NAMING AND SHAMING!

    we’ve got the internet. we can do it.

  97. maggot
    May 27th, 2009 @ 3:17 pm

    Of course the guilty should be punished.

    But the system has to change – and if half a million people turn up to protest then politicians will pay attention. Otherwise they know that if they are allowed to wait people will slump back into apathy and the ” time to move on ” mantra will take you back to business as usual.

  98. Holemaster
    May 27th, 2009 @ 3:53 pm

    Ah sure it’ll be grand, we’re all right here in the dark.

  99. netron
    May 27th, 2009 @ 6:08 pm

    now up to 33,000 views… its spreading.

  100. GLUAISTEAN
    May 28th, 2009 @ 4:59 am

    MORE TALK…AND TALK….AND TALK….
    THE FUCKERS WHO LET THIS HAPPEN KNOW THAT ALL THAT WILL RESULT FROM THE OUTRAGE IS TALK….
    WE ARE A SLAVE NATION BY INSTINCT AND BREEDING AT THIS POINT.
    SUCKS, BUT ITS TRUE – NOBODY WILL BE IN PHOENIX PARK, I GUARANTEE YOU THAT…..

  101. maggot
    May 28th, 2009 @ 11:14 am

    Found this – Ironic, eh what ?

    ” Bishop Farren of Derry had put it more forcefully in the 1950s – the Church ‘required’ Catholic parents to send their children to Catholic schools to preserve the faith of the next generation, otherwise the children of those attending non-Catholic schools would be ‘perverts’.”

    the Catholics of Ulster A HISTORY Marianne Elliott, Penguin Books, 2001, p 458

  102. Holemaster
    May 28th, 2009 @ 2:48 pm

    Gluas, I hope I can prove you wrong.

  103. maggot
    May 28th, 2009 @ 4:33 pm
  104. anon
    May 29th, 2009 @ 1:31 pm

    Burn their posters and march to the dail and trash government cars like they did in thailand

  105. maggot
    May 30th, 2009 @ 12:07 am
  106. GLUASTEAN
    May 31st, 2009 @ 8:55 am

    Holelmaster – Believe it or not but I would be ecstatic if it turns out I was wrong….and if I knew for a fact it would happen I would buy a ticket to Ireland right now to attend….

  107. Alan Bird
    June 6th, 2009 @ 5:57 am

    Speaking as an outsider to all this (English, atheist), there’s one thing struck me about this debate. Why not follow the examples following the scandals over in the US? I mean class actions by those who suffered. Separate actions against each single order, against the ISPCC, against (if possible) the department of education and the judiciary. Against individual people where possible.
    Use the law and good luck to youse.
    And PS: William Donohue is still a cunt.

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