Local history with Monica McGill: The darker side of Ireland’s heritage has now come to light
WHEN examining the range of elements of our heritage and customs, people might consider old buildings like Clondalkin’s Round Tower or customs going back a long time, but whose origins now may be mostly forgotten.
For instance, we eat special foods at particular times of the year and, annually, entire trees may be displayed inside our homes, decorated with twinkly lights and coloured baubles.
No matter what happened since last Christmas, these same traditions will be repeated.
It’s part of our heritage and culture.
Ireland’s Darker Side
Some darker parts of our heritage and culture have been brought to light, however.
We are perhaps just beginning to acknowledge them properly – not just a heartfelt apology or acknowledgement from upstanding politicians in the Dáil (though they may be welcome).
Not just enquiries producing secret results or many redactions.
What is required is the proper respect and acknowledgement due to the vulnerable people who underwent assault of various kinds in a cruel system – battery, fear, hunger, deprivation, incarceration and many deaths.
The Irish State paid the perpetrators for this “care” on our behalf.
Therefore, as a nation, we are all implicated in these abuses.
As we know now, many sections of our population suffered various abuses and scandalous behaviour from those who should have known better.
The only common denominator seems to have been that the targets were those who wouldn’t say anything (through fear) or couldn’t say (through inability) what was happening or had happened to them.
Shameful heritage
Our national heritage includes the shameful legacy of what happened to thousands of people.
Church and school authorities, the Irish State, Irish Statute law, the Irish police force, Irish judiciary system, and the silent Irish population colluded in various ways to support and implement that legacy.
The active or passive collusion resulted in the misery experienced by people in Mother and Baby ‘Homes’, County Homes, industrial schools and other institutions such as Magdalene Laundries, and also primary and secondary schools.
The proofs are in various reports for anyone to read if they have the stomach to do so.
The 1931 Carrigan Report about abuse in schools was the first. It was suppressed.
Some in the system (now in adulthood) were fostered as children with a family in a district unfamiliar to the youngster. In many cases, what happened amounted to modern slavery.
There was also adoption, and even transporting babies to another country for adoption there.
Many mothers never gave their permission for these actions, never saw their children again.
Fathers of children were ignored, even if they had wanted to be considered.
Yes, the abuse happened in the past – but it’s our past.
Sometimes our recent past.
It still deeply affects the survivors and their families.
It should never be permitted to happen again.
Lies by authorities
Customarily, lies were told repeatedly by people in authority.
These obstacles to justice became part of our national custom and practice, our culture.
There were many cover ups and “whitewashes”.
We ignored the system that damaged a lot of people.
We must give the survivors the corrective actions and supports they’ve requested – and it’s not always monetary compensation.
It’s hard to face up to what happened to them, but it’s necessary if we are to emerge with clean hands.
What right have we to criticise other States for similar wrongs they’ve done or are doing, if we ourselves don’t thoroughly clean up our own house first?
How much more hypocrisy are we prepared to support, this once proud island of saints and scholars?
Third Reich
Just after World War 2, German people were made to view some examples of the atrocities that had occurred during the Third Reich to ensure they acknowledged what had happened right under their noses.
A few tried to stop the regime, and some paid the ultimate price. Did fear stop those who stood by?
Was it greed for promotion, “group think”, or survival? Have we been any better?
Irish people knew something about the abuses that were happening here at the time.
Some have bravely provided information.
Artist Alison Lowry stated “In 20th century Ireland, one in every hundred people were institutionalised . . . mostly in Mother and Baby Homes, the industrial schools and the (Magdalene) Laundries.
One in a hundred? That’s close to Stalin levels of institutionalisation of a population.”
Finally closed
The Magdalene Laundries existed in Ireland from 1922 until 1996 when the last one closed.
It was in Dublin’s Seán MacDermott Street, opposite the church.
The last Mother and Baby Home closed in 1998.
When are we going to learn the obvious lessons from our past, and not allow these harmful behaviours against the vulnerable to be repeated?
Some survivors can’t seek assistance because they were in institutions which were excluded from reports.
At least one Order of religious has changed its name.
Apparently, others have legally shielded themselves from making monetary or other compensation to their victims, using Irish law to do so.
It seems they are still considered suitable for charitable status and so legally avoid having to pay taxes normally required.
When courageous survivors reported the abuses, were they taken seriously?
What happened to the reports that were made to authority figures and organisations?
As some other politicians have done in the past, it’s good to see that our Minister for Education, our Minister for Justice (and An Garda Síochána) have spoken out recently.
A paedophile ring has been mentioned, perhaps for the first time.
An Garda have asked survivors to make their reports to them, and many have.
At last, some progress seems to be happening, but survivors ask for timely conclusions and fitting remedies.
Are we jaded by reports of abuses?
Are we disappointed, angry, forgiving, or hoping it will all blow over?
Will we demand that Ireland does the right thing before even more survivors pass on to their eternal reward?
It has cost us dearly – and not just in money terms, but we have to stop “dancing at the crossroads” of delay; stop turning away.
As a moral and ethical nation heading into a general election, surely we must demand that all the authorities tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help us, God.
Anyone with any information relating to the above can report it at their local Garda Station.