Corporal punishment 'harmed no one' at notorious institution

Corporal punishment 'harmed no one' at notorious institution

Tuesday May 16th 2006 CORPORAL punishment used at one of the most notorious industrial schools "did not cause harm to anyone", it is claimed. The Sisters of Mercy, who ran St Vincent's Industrial School at Goldenbridge, said the punishment was not excessive. The Dublin school has been seen as one of the most notorious industrial institutions, with ex-residents claiming frequent physical abuse. At the ongoing hearings of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (CICA) yesterday, the Sisters of Mercy also denied corporal punishment used at Our Lady of Succour Industrial School in Newtownforbes, Longford, was excessive. Yesterday's proceedings were interrupted a number of times by former residents, who questioned claims made by representatives of the religious bodies. Answering questions on Goldenbridge, Sr Helena O'Donoghue, provincial leader of the south-central province of the Sisters of Mercy, said the Order was well aware of the pain which ex-residents carried. She said "the reality was a cause of great distress" for the Sisters. The Sisters there during the years the school was run were also deeply distressed, she said. The Order acknowledged the industrial schools were not the best form of appropriate care, but they "do not accept that they were excessively harsh", she said. Referring later to corporal punishment, she said it was accepted that it was used but "was not excessive or caused harm to anyone". Goldenbridge was "unfriendly, to put it at its mildest, to children who were hurt already", Sr O'Donoghue admitted. The institution was "reasonably efficient and caring" and the Sisters worked hard and were "committed, dedicated and progressive". Earlier, Sr Margaret Casey from the western province of the Sisters of Mercy, said corporal punishment was used at Newtownforbes but could not comment on the severity or regularity of it. Sr Casey said some of the girls could not read or write on leaving the school. David McGrath SC, for some of the victims, asked whether there was a big clean-up before inspections. Sr Casey said she was not there at the time. She said it was regretted that girls over the age of eight were slapped for bed-wetting. Shane Hickey © Irish Independent