FUNDING OF INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS: MARY RAFTERY Vs. THE CHRISTIAN BROTHERS

[ If a person is accused of child abuse 30, 40 or even 50 years after the alleged event, it is normally impossible to prove one's innocence. You cannot 'prove' a negative. However Mary Raftery has ALSO made allegations about the adequacy of State funding of industrial schools, and the alleged misuse of those funds by the Christian Brothers. The credibility of those allegations can be checked - for example by comparing the level of State funding in Northern Ireland and in England.

Ms Raftery is obviously talking through her hat on the funding issue. Why should we believe her claims regarding the alleged sexual abuse of children?
Also the following Irish Times article was published on 28 April 1999 while the 3 part "States of Fear" series was being broadcast by RTE (April/May 1999). Our child abuse witch-hunt may possibly be winding down now - nine years later. Why did it ever get going in the first place since it was obvious AT THE TIME that Raftery could not be trusted?

Rory Connor
5 January 2008 ]

Schools' Funds Inadequate, Christian Brothers Claim
Irish Times, 28 April, 1999

The Irish Christian Brothers claimed last night that State funding of the order's industrial schools was never adequate to cover the costs involved.

Responding to allegations made in the RTE programme States of Fear, the order said to imply that boys were deprived of food while money was diverted elsewhere was grossly unfair and untrue.

"We strenuously affirm that State funds received by the congregation for the upkeep of industrial schools was used for its intended purpose. It is totally untrue to suggest that any taxpayers' money was in some way diverted for other uses," the order said in a statement.

During the programme a former inmate of a school said the children were sometimes so hungry they ate grass.

According to the order, it received 10/- (50p) per boy per week in 1939; 30/- (�1.50) per boy per week in 1950 and 55/-(�2.75) per week per boy in 1964. It points out that in the UK in 1950 boys in similar institutions were allocated �5-4-9 (�5.23p) and in Northern Ireland the allocation was �4.

In 1955 the order had sought extra funding and gave detailed figures to the Department of Education which showed the cost of keeping a boy in an institution was �2-15-5 (�2.77) per week at a time when the State subvention was �1-10-0 (�1.50).

The order stated the money given by the State had to cover all costs including medical, food, clothing, building and household maintenance and that in 1950 the majority of schools were running at a deficit. Boys in the care of the order were given regular and appropriate medical attention.

The statement said the Brothers took a considered decision not to appear on the programme as it was not given the appropriate assurances by the producer, Mary Rafferty, that would lead it to believe the programme would be fair and balanced.

It also felt it would not be given adequate time to make its case - it was told an interview with a brother would be edited down to about four to five minutes.

While reiterating its sincere apologies for hurt or trauma suffered by anyone entrusted to its care, the order pointed out that 20,000 boys went through institutions run by the Brothers but only 145 complaints of mistreatment had been made. "One complaint, of course, is one too many," it concluded.

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