30/06/2009

Sister of Charity Nun Apologises To Victims

A nun has today apologised to children who were abused while under the care of the Sisters of Charity organisation.

Sister Stanislaus Kennedy, who campaigns for social justice, is a member of the religious order that, among others, was criticised in the devastating Ryan Report.

She said members were ashamed, shocked and horrified by the physical and sexual abuse of children at its facilities.

“We must ensure that wide-scale and systematic abuse of children does not happen again in this country. Abuse happens when power is vested in individuals and institutions who are unaccountable," she said.

Sister Kennedy is well known for her charitable works, founding the homelessness charity Focus Ireland in 1985 and setting up The Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI) in 2001 as a response to the social needs of new immigrants living in Ireland.

In 1997 she was appointed to the Council of State by President Mary McAleese and served until 2004.

The social justice campaigner told a conference in Dublin Castle the report laid bare the appalling manner in which the most vulnerable children were treated in institutions run by congregations over the past 50 years.

(DW/BMcC)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

03 February 2016
Vodaphone Partners With ISPCC To Help Keep Children Safe
Telecoms giant Vodaphone has announced a five-year partnership with the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC). The partnership aims to help keep children safe. Vodaphone Ireland Foundation will provide the charity with €2 million in direct funding over five years.
30 October 2018
Ireland Highly Ranked In Reducing Childhood Educational Inequality
Ireland has been ranked second out of 41 wealthy nations at reducing education inequality between children, according to UNICEF's latest Report Card.
20 July 2011
Shatter Receives Garda Report On Donegal Child Abuse Case
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence has received Preliminary information from An Garda Síochána regarding a child abuse case in Donegal.
06 February 2014
Children's Organisations Call For An Outright Ban On Slapping Children
The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) and the Children's Rights Alliance have launched the findings of a survey conducted to investigate attitudes towards child discipline.
15 April 2013
Parents Have No Services To Turn To If Their Children Are Obese
At the launch of the INDI's (Irish Nutrition & Dietetic Institute) Nourish Children Week in Dublin today, it has been revealed that parents have little or no services to turn to in their community, if their children are overweight or obese.