‘That is cowardice’: Government lambasted by Kildare rep for ‘delay in supporting abuse survivors’

The government has been criticised by a Kildare county councillor for its handling of a hunger strike which recently came to an end.

Until it came to an end yesterday (November 11 last), a hunger strike was being carried out by four people on hunger strike outside Leinster House.

The protestors — Miriam Moriarty Owens, Mary Donovan, Mary Dunlevy Greene, and Maurice Patton O’Connell — are survivors of institutional abuse and were demanding State support in response to what happened to them in industrial and reformatory schools. Specifically, the group wanted to be awarded a Health Amendment Act (HAA) card and a State contributory pension. 

Following a meeting with An Taoiseach Micheál Martin and the Minister for Education Helen McEntee, it is understood the government is now offering a package of measures including financial assistance, priority access for social housing and healthcare supports.

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Previously, the four protestors found support in newly-elected President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly.

And now, Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender has also expressed support for the group.

The Newbridge-based politician said: "It should shame this government that it took 51 days of protest and a hunger strike for survivors of institutional abuse to be heard.

"These men and women were failed once by the State in the institutions, and they’ve now been failed again by a government that only acted under public pressure."

Cllr Pender further said the courage of the four survivors had "exposed a system that listens only when forced".

He alleged: "The government ignored them for weeks, hoping the problem would go away... that is not compassion, that is cowardice."

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COMMITMENTS

Cllr Pender also said that while welcomed the commitments to provide financial aid, healthcare supports, and housing, he also warned: "Survivors have heard promises before; words mean nothing without delivery.

"This support package must be implemented immediately and in full partnership with survivors, not buried in bureaucracy."

Cllr Pender also called for accountability regarding the handling of the situation: "We need to know who made the decisions to stonewall these survivors for so long.

"There must be a full, transparent review of how this was handled; If ministers or senior officials failed to act, they should answer for it.

"This entire situation shows how broken our system of government is when it comes to basic decency."

He concluded: "The State’s instinct should be to listen, not to silence... we can never claim to stand for justice while treating survivors like an inconvenience."

Cllr Pender's words echo similar sentiments expressed by his party's education spokesperson, Jen Cummins.

The Department of Education has been asked for comment in relation to Cllr Pender's statement.

Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender. File photograph

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Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.