Hannah's proud, governments shame; Bethany issue 'under consideration'

Irish Times
February 3, 2012

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has said he is giving “very careful consideration” to issues relating to the former Bethany Home for mothers and babies in Dublin.

There have been demands to include the Protestant-run Rathgar home, which was open between 1921 and 1972, in the terms of reference of an inquiry into the former Magdalen laundries.
Former residents of the Bethany Home have accused the government of discriminating against them on religious grounds by excluding them from the remit of its investigation of the Catholic-run Magdalene laundries. Mr Shatter has rejected the suggestion that the State's position is motivated by religious discrimination.

In a letter to Northern Ireland Assembly MLA William Irwin, Mr Shatter said there were “no plans” to expand the brief of the interdepartmental committee chaired by Senator Martin McAleese.

But Mr Shatter’s January reply to Mr Irwin’s letter of last October said he had been giving the matter “very careful consideration”.

“It may help to clarify matters if I could explain that the Government decision of last June to establish the inter-departmental committee chaired by Senator McAleese was taken on foot of its consideration of the circumstances relating to the women and girls who formerly resided in the Magdalen laundries.

“In accordance with its terms of reference, the committee is charged with establishing the facts of the State’s involvement, clarifying any State interaction with those laundries, and with producing a narrative detailing such interaction. There are presently no plans to expand its brief beyond those institutions.

“I can assure you, however, that consideration is being given to issues relating to the former Bethany Home and the appropriateness and practicality of such issues being addressed in a satisfactory manner.”

Between 25 and 30 former residents of the Bethany Home are seeking to be included in any redress scheme.

In 2010, the group, with the help of Griffith College Dublin lecturer Niall Meehan, discovered 219 unmarked graves in Mount Jerome cemetery in Dublin of children from the home. More than one third died in the five years from 1935-39.

The Bethany Home was principally a mother-and-baby home, but maintained children until at least the age of three. It, and an number of other Church of Ireland children’s homes are excluded from the remit of the Residential Institutions Redress Board.

The redress board was established in 2002 to make awards those who were abused as children while resident in industrial schools, reformatories and other institutions subject to State regulation or inspection.

Labour TD Robert Dowds has tabled a parliamentary question to Mr Shatter for next week, asking him what consideration is being given to issues in relation to the former Bethany Home, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Clan

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