Mercy Sisters deny brutality claims

Sr Helena O'Donoghue: was shocked by claims
Wednesday March 16th 2005

Nuns tell heated abuse inquiry that orphanage head was unfairly 'demonised' in documentary

THE Mercy Sisters have said that while they accept abuses did take place at Goldenbridge industrial school, they deny the most serious allegations, especially those made against the former head of Goldenbridge, Sr Xaviera.

The statement was made yesterday during a public hearing of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. Sr Helena O'Donoghue, a member of the Mercy Sisters' leadership, was giving evidence about the general regime at the industrial school, officially known as St Vincent's.

The school gained notoriety in 1996 when RTE screened the drama documentary 'Dear Daughter' which focused on the story of Christine Buckley and the allegations of brutality she made against Sr Xaviera, who was resident manager at Goldenbridge at the time.

Sr O'Donoghue, who stressed she had no personal knowledge of the school and was instead relying on written records and the testimony of third parties, recalled the dramatic effect 'Dear Daughter' had on her order, which is the biggest in Ireland.

She said they were shocked that so many of the people who had been in their care had such bad memories of their time in Goldenbridge and other industrial schools under their management.

However, she complained that Sr Xaviera, who is still alive, had been "demonised and vilified" as a result of the programme. "Serious allegations were accepted in the public domain as fact."

Sr O'Donoghue recalled how, shortly after the 'Dear Daughter' broadcast, Sr Xaviera publicly denied the most serious claims of abuse made against her, although she acknowledged she ran a strict regime at the school which included use of corporal punishment.

Sr O'Donoghue said that Sr Xaviera's denial of the most serious abuse allegations "was ignored by the media". She said "judgment had been made".

Christine Buckley, who runs the victim support group, Aislinn, was in the audience at yesterday's hearing with a group of former residents of Goldenbridge who interrupted proceedings with shouts of "lies" and "whitewash".

Legal counsel for Ms Buckley, the former Attorney General John Rogers, intervened saying that Ms Buckley felt she was not being given a chance to respond in public to what Sr O'Donoghue was saying. He indicated that Sr O'Donoghue's testimony amounted to a denial of the abuse allegations made by Ms Buckley herself.

He said his client felt that if Sr O'Donoghue was permitted to comment in public hearings on her allegations, then Ms Buckley should also be permitted to respond in public hearing.

Commission chairman, Justice Sean Ryan, indicated he could give no assurance on this point. But Ms Buckley and over 30 other former residents of Goldenbridge will be giving testimony of their experiences at the school in private session beginning on Friday until April 27. Areas of contention can then be discussed in public hearing under cross-examination.

Among the most serious allegations against Sr Xaviera and Goldenbridge generally included that she beat Ms Buckley on the leg so hard that it split open, and that babies were badly neglected and even died as a result of mistreatment.

David Quinn
Religious Affairs Correspondent

? Irish Independent