Bethany children must not be forgotten

Examiner

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Speaking in the wake of the children’s referendum, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the Government will respond "positively and wholeheartedly" and match the new legislation with appropriate action.

Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald referred to the decision of the people as giving a voice to children and was a historic day for the children of Ireland that would ensure their rights were better protected, and was an affirmation that the State recognises the ‘natural and imprescriptable rights’ of children which will be protected and vindicated by the State.

Legislation emanating from the passing of this referendum must also embrace children of the past, including children from the Bethany Homes and Magdalene laundries who have been exempted from the Residential Institutional Redress Act 2002.

It seems absurd that abused children of the Bethany and Magdalene Institutions are less cherished by the State than those children of similar institutions.

While acknowledging the attempts that have been made to heal the scars and wounds associated with institutional child abuse by way of the publication of the Ryan report, the State apology to victims, the setting up of the redress scheme, etc, I believe the exemption of former residents of the Magdalene laundries and the Bethany Home from the redress scheme is no longer defensible. The Government must implement the substance of the referendum as is their constitutional obligation.

Tom Cooper
Knocklyon
Dublin 16