Abuse inquiry told nuns had 'embargo on affection'

Martin Wall
17/05/2006

A leader of the Sisters of Mercy congregation has said members were discouraged from showing affection to children at a former industrial school which it operated.

The investigative committee of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse heard yesterday that former residents of St Joseph's Industrial School, Clifden, Co Galway, had given evidence about one nun who had been kind and who hugged children, but only in secret. Commissioner and member of the committee, Fred Lowe, said it appeared there was almost "an embargo on showing affection".

He said there was evidence about one sister at the school who would hug the children, but only in secret.

Sr Margaret Casey, leader of the Sisters of Mercy, western province, said that under the vow of chastity and celibacy, the thinking was that instead of showing affection for one person that you were free to love all.

She said members had been discouraged from showing affection, but this did not mean that individuals were not able to build up relationships with students.

Sr Casey also said that corporal punishment had been a feature of life at St Joseph's, as it had been at many other schools.

She said the congregation had apologised to any former resident at the school who had been hurt as a result of excessive corporal punishment.

The committee also heard that Department of Education officials had concerns in the 1940s that children at another industrial school run by the Sisters of Mercy at Cappoquin, Co Waterford, were living in a state of "semi-starvation".

An internal department memorandum from 1944, which was read by Mr Lowe, recommended that the then resident manager at the school be removed.

It said that of 75 boys examined, more than 60 had been found to be under normal weight. The memorandum said the resident manager had been in place for 17 years and it described her as "ruthless", "domineering" and someone who challenged advice provided.

The memorandum also revealed that the department had been concerned about the successor appointed as resident manager at the school.

The leader of the order's southern province, Sr Loretta Crowley, said department inspectors visited the school many times and provided advice on the appropriate diet for children until they did gain weight. The Sisters of Mercy also told the committee there had been no "atmosphere of abuse" at St Joseph's industrial school in Dundalk which it also operated.

The leader of the order's northern province, Sr Anne Marie McQuaid, said that given the length of time and the number of children involved, it was "realistic to say that a child could have been beaten more severely".

She said that for such cases the congregation would be sad and would apologise.

? The Irish Times