A local group representing survivors of institutional abuse is calling for a national day of remembrance to be held in recognition of the pain and suffering experienced by both deceased and living survivors.
The organisation, part of the national group known as Right of Place/Second Chance which offers support to survivors in the areas of education, health, housing, employment, welfare, etc, says while some may have received compensation from the Redress Board the damage caused by the abuse continued to affect them.
Survivors contacted the group’s Galway/Limerick and western offices almost 700 times from March 2011 to February 2012.
Over a fifth of those approaches were made by the dependent of a survivor, says Val Groarke, the organisation’s outreach co-ordinator for the HSE West, who is based in Galway.
“This shows the inter-generational effect of institutional abuse,” he says.
While the Redress Board is in the process of winding up the support group believes that much more needs to be done to help those affected.
It is calling on the Government to publish plans for a €110 million additional contribution by 18 religious congregations which will be used as a trust fund for survivors.
“What we’re worried about is the trust fund and the way the Government is dragging its feet about coming up with the criteria for it.”
Mr Groarke is urging the Government to supplement the fund on an annual basis to allow survivors who have not yet come forward to access it. It has been suggested that those who did not apply to the redress board will not qualify for it.
“I believe that there are a lot of people out there who didn’t get the redress. Because the Government had it shut down we’re pushing for them to reopen it and leave it open for another few years. Just because some of us were ready, it doesn’t mean that everyone was.”
He points out that many survivors found it difficult to come forward, especially before an official board, citing the relatively low numbers who applied for compensation.
“I know that a certain number of people died but they are certainly not all dead. Some people were not ready to open up that can of worms. I’ve come across several people who were in school along with me and they will not come forward and they will not say anything. They are almost in fear of something happening to them if they come forward. It is a fear thing.”
He wants the children of survivors to be able to access the trust fund, pointing out that what happened to survivors affected their quality of life and the lives of their families.
“I think some people think that we’re fine because we got compensation but money doesn’t give you back what you lost, like an education. A huge amount of our people have not worked for most of their lives and a lot would have got ‘low class’ jobs. There were a few who didn’t do too badly but a lot of survivors wouldn’t be able to read or write.
“If they have a problem, we want them to know that there is a service here. They can just lift the phone.”
The Galway/western regional office of Right of Place/Second Chance can be contacted at (091 ) 757130.
