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	We're Angry, but Abuse Protest Will Be Dignified, Says Victim By Michael O'Brien Herald May 29, 2009 http://www.herald.ie/national-news/were-angry-but-abuse-protest-will-be-dignified-says-victim-1755283.html ALTHOUGH people may think otherwise after seeing me on Questions and Answers, I am usually a calm man. And I think this is a time for reflection and also action. The whole country has been shocked by what has emerged through the publication of the Ryan Report. Even people who were not in any of the State institutions want to show their solidarity, and that's how the idea of a demonstration came up. The National Demonstration in Solidarity with Abuse Victims is to be held on Sunday, June 21 in central Dublin. Although the final details of the route have yet to be worked out, we are not looking for a loud and angry demonstration. Yes, people may be furious about the abuse of power that occurred in many of the State-run institutions, but they should be dignified with their protests. There should be no banners, no flags, no ranting, no raving. This is not an anti-priest or anti-religious orders march. For every bad priest, there are a dozen good ones. For every bad Christian Brother, there are a lot of good ones. There is no point in tarring everyone with the same brush and nothing will be gained from it. If you are going on this march and I would hope that many people do — especially those who have not been in a State institution, to show some solidarity — you should behave in a dignified manner. If you start shouting, you won't achieve anything. People have asked me about the redress situation a lot over the past week and what I would like to see happen is simple. There are people all over England who have been in institutions and who have now fallen on hard times. I would like to see something done for those people. They may be sleeping rough, so get them off the streets. Put them in a place where they can feel safe and happy. Give them some dignity in their lives — they deserve it. The same goes for people who have fallen by the wayside — whether through drugs or alcohol. We have a responsibility to try to help those people. The office of the Taoiseach should set up a board, such as the Educational Finance Board, and it should only be accountable to the Office of the Taoiseach. We should not have several different Government departments involved in this as nothing will get done. If people feel that they were not redressed properly, let them come and tell their story to the board. Do not let solicitors get involved. Let whatever money is there be distributed to those who have been abused. I am glad that President McAleese has said that the guilty parties who abused children in the institutions should face prosecution. If there are people alive who abused children in these homes, then let them face justice. My two abusers didn't face justice in this life, but I hope they have received judgment for their actions in the next life.
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