50 excluded from redress scheme: PBP
FIFTY children abused at an orphanage in Simon Harris’ home town are being excluded from the new mother and baby home redress scheme.
Unlike other victims nationwide, they are not being automatically given free medical cards.
The revelations were made by the leader of People Before Profit Richard Boyd Barrett who demanded justice for those abused at the Westbank Orphanage in Greystones, Co Wicklow.
It was run and financed for decades by members of the Anglican community for Protestant girls and then in latter years, boys, until it closed in the 1990s.
Many of the children were illegally sent to families in Northern Ireland, England and Scotland.
Mr Boyd Barrett said: “What is Simon Harris going to do about the 50 children who suffered abuse in the Westbank orphanage.
“They were excluded from the support provided by this bill, Supports for Survivors of Residential Institution Abuse Bill, 2024 and from the mother and baby home redress scheme.
“They suffered abuse, neglect, beatings and were injected with substances.
“Why are they being excluded? Are we going to give them what they ask for and include them in a proper redress scheme and the supports they need to make atonement for what for what the institutions of church and state did to these children.”
Only four out of 29 recommendations from survivors are included in the Survivors bill and the separate redress scheme.
One, Maurice Patton O’connell, said: “They are trying to save money and wait for us all to die.”
Mick Barry TD added: “Many survivors have been excluded. Many of them applied for the redress scheme thinking it related only to sexual abuse and not other forms of abuse.”