TWENTY women who claim they were abused in a Mercy Order orphanage and industrial school are to initiate Circuit Court proceedings this week for damages. The women are each seeking damages of up to £30,000 for the physical and mental trauma they claim they suffered while resident in the Rushbrooke orphanage in Cobh, Co Cork.
The women's solicitor, Ms Sinead Behan, confirmed that they would be suing a nominee of the Mercy Order as the principal in their actions.
The women claim they were physically and mentally abused by a nun and matron at Rushbrooke over a 20 year period up to the early 1970s.
Among the allegations of ill treatment are claims that some of the girls were made to eat their own vomit, while others who were bed wetters were made to wrap wet sheets around their heads. Further allegations centre on claims that some of the girls were locked in a coal shed overnight as punishment, while others allege they were beaten with a wooden spoon.
Earlier this week the women learnt that the Director of Public Prosecutions had decided, following a Garda investigation, not to seek a prosecution in connection with the allegations. Notification came in a letter from the DPP's office to one of the women.
According to Ms Behan, given the current backlog of Circuit Court cases, it could take 18 months to two years before the women's cases reach court.