'The abuse that happened in the past was horrendous'

INSTITUTION PROFILE:EIGHTEEN MEN have been investigated in connection with allegations of abuse against 21 children with intellectual disabilities at Brothers of Charity residential units in Galway over 33 years.

A report by Dr Kevin McCoy dealt with allegations of serious abuse at the Holy Family School in Renmore, Galway city, and the Brothers of Charity Residential Services in Clarinbridge, Co Galway. It highlighted a failure to protect and promote the rights, welfare, dignity and well-being of children and young people with intellectual disabilities.

“I was surprised by the lack of inspections and standards,” says Dr Margaret Kennedy, a UK-based expert on disability who trained staff at the centre for three years up to 2003. “It seemed to be 10 years behind the UK and 20 behind the US.”

Anne Geraghty, the current chief executive of the Brothers of Charity in Galway, says the organisation has implemented the recommendations of the McCoy Report.

“The abuse that happened in the past was horrendous. The service has taken every opportunity to unequivocally apologise and has done everything possible to ensure we have robust policies and procedures in place to ensure it never happens again.”

She points to new care standards at the organisation, which go beyond basic care, aiming to fulfill the “hopes and dreams” of those in care, and to include them in the decision-making process.

The spotlight remains on the organisation. The Irish Human Rights Commission is finalising an inquiry into the quality of life of residents at one of the Brothers of Charity’s other facilities, the John Paul Centre in Ballybane, Galway.

It is understood that a HSE review into care at the centre two years ago highlighted the need to review some care practices.