Investigation into Deaths of Boys in Catholic Institution, Radio Netherlands, August 16, 2011

Investigation into Deaths of Boys in Catholic Institution

Radio Netherlands
August 16, 2011

http://www.rnw.nl/africa/bulletin/investigation-deaths-boys-catholic-institution

Photo: Kerkgebouwen in Limburg

The Dutch Public Prosecution Office is investigating the deaths of 34 boys in the early 1950s in an institution for the mentally handicapped in the southern province of Limburg. The deaths were reported by the Deetman commission, which is investigating the sexual abuse of children in the Roman Catholic church.

Roman Catholic monks were responsible for the care of mentally-handicapped children in the former St. Joseph institution in the town of Heel near Roermond. An investigation of archives by the Deetman Commission has revealed that the number of deaths in the institution in the early 1950s was much higher than average. The death rate at the home increased in 1952, 1953 and 1954. It is not clear why the rate dropped back down after 1954. All the cases were boys under-18 years old.

This information was known in at the end of the same decade to the diocese of Roermond, the government's Labour Inspectorate, the former Catholic Alliance for the Protection of Children and possibly to the health inspectorate, reports regional daily Dagblad De Limburger. The home was run by the Catholic church until 1969, when it was taken over by the Daelzicht foundation.

The Public Prosecution Office refuses to comment on the causes of the 34 deaths. Although it has indicated to the Limburger that due to the lapse of time no prosecutions can take place if any crimes were committed. The PPO wants to investigate what caused the deaths "with a view to the impact and extent of the case." It is possible that the deaths were connected to sexual abuse.

Both the Public Prosecution Office and the Deetman Commission have declined to comment on how the suspicious deaths came to light back in the 1950s. The Public Prosecution Office was not aware of the possible suspicious deaths of the 34 children. It is not known whether there was a conscious effort on the part of the church or other organisations to cover up the affair a half century ago.

The diocese of Roermond has issued a statement saying it welcomes the investigation and has opened its archives to encourage research. "We want to get away from the cover-up practices, have opened the archives and encourage this kind of research," says a church spokesperson.