‘Foster’ home owner says abuse claims are ‘all lies’

The elderly woman who ran the “foster home” in the south east which is at the centre of allegations of child abuse has said the young people who stayed in her home over a 30-year period had been “very happy”.

“There’s been nothing but lies about me, all lies,” she said.

Speaking to The Irish Times at her pretty, well-maintained home in a rural area of the south east, she said recent weeks had been “upsetting” and “bad” but she had had support from the mother of one of the disabled children who had stayed in the home between 1983 and 2013.

“She was disgusted at everything people were saying about me. She said they were very happy with the care.”

The former respite care home, which is a modest family house, will be at the centre of a commission of investigation to be established by the next government. It will investigate allegations of serious sexual abuse and the relationship between South Eastern Health Board (SEHB), the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the home.

A total of 47 children and young adults, most with intellectual disabilities, stayed at the home at various times between 1983 and 2013.

The woman said it was not a “foster home”.

“I never fostered anyone and the health board never paid me fostering allowance for anyone. This was a breakaway.”

She said it operated only in July and August and families paid £18 weekly when their children stayed in it.

“I fed them, gave them breakfast, dinner and tea and took them out to the shops and everything, gave their families a break.”

Children were placed by the SEHB from 1983, by the Brothers of Charity from 1984 and others were placed privately by their families. The Brothers of Charity stopped placing children in 1990. The SEHB ceased placements in 1995, following an allegation of serious, violent sexual abuse of one girl in 1992 and a second disclosure in 1995 of alleged abuse, made by a former resident's family who had moved to Britain. This disclosure was conveyed to the SEHB.

Asked about “Ann”, a young woman who continued to stay at the home until her family was told to stop placing her there in October 2013, the woman said: “That was my friend. She was only here now and then.”

She said the allegations of abuse taking place at the house were “tormenting” her and she had spoken to a solicitor.