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	"Sweet Words Just Not Good Enough" - Victim Derry Journal March 19, 2010 http://www.derryjournal.com/journal/39Sweet-words-just-not-good.6166516.jp Victims of child abuse at Catholic Church-run orphanages in Derry say they have mixed emotions about an apology from the Bishop of Derry. During a three hour long meeting this week, Bishop Seamus Hegarty apologised to five people who were abused as children in the care homes of the Sister of Nazareth nuns. He described the period in the 1950s and 60s as "a dark period of our shared past". Speaking to the 'Journal' following the meeting, local victim Jon McCourt said each person told their individual story in turn."It was a conversation certainly worth having," he said. "Bishop Hegarty was very open and listened to everything we had to say. It was very painful for all of us and, I believe, for the Bishop and the two priests in his company as well." He added that the position of the group was "never going to be adversarial". "We went in there with our dignity and came out with it enhanced," he said. He added that the group was hopeful Bishop Hegarty would encourage bishops throughout Ireland to hold similar meetings with victims of child abuse. However, Brian Doherty, who was abused during two terms under the care of the Sisters of Nazareth at Termonbacca, said: "The sweet words from Bishop Seamus Hegarty were just not good enough." Gone unheard In a statement, Bishop Hegarty acknowledged that, for many years, their voices had "gone unheard". He added: "It is one thing to accept the truth of a personal account, but today's encounter was an opportunity to see the human pain, experienced by each individual, that lies behind the story. I wish to state clearly that I believe what I was told. This has been for me a most memorable meeting." He added that the abuse was a cause of "deep sorrow and shame". "I am truly sorry and offer my apology that anyone should suffer such abuse in any institution which was operating where the Spirit of Jesus Christ should have prevailed."
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