Christine Buckley's Husband Tells Newstalk: "She Fought for Everyone"

By Jack Quann
The Newstalk
March 11, 2014

http://www.newstalk.ie/Campaigner-Christine-Buckley-has-died


The institutional abuse campaigner died in Dublin this morning

Tributes are being paid to campaigner Christine Buckley who has died at the age of 67. She passed away in a Dublin hospital early this morning.

She had been battling cancer for a number of years.

Buckley was a former resident of the Goldenbridge Institution. She was conferred with a Doctor in Laws (LL.D) from Trinity College last December.

As one of the first people to go public about her experience of abuse, she campaigned tirelessly for more than 25 years on behalf of other survivors of institutional abuse.

She was a co-founder and director of the Aislinn Centre in Dublin, which provides educational and support services for survivors.

Then-Taoiseach Brian Cowen accepts petition from a deputation representation victims of institutional abuse, led by Christine Buckley in 2009

Former President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, previously described her as a woman who has changed the course of history through her voluntary effort.

In 2010 she was selected as Irish Volunteer of the Year and went on to be awarded the title 'European Volunteer of the Year'.

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has paid tribute to Ms. Buckley.

Frances Fitzgerald said "Christine Buckley was a courageous and consistent campaigner for child protection and children's rights".

"As a survivor of institutional abuse, Christine led the charge to lift the veil on Ireland's dark past and shameful legacy of child abuse" she added.

Minister Fitzgerald also expressed her condolences to the family and friends of Christine, and to the staff and supporters of the Aislinn Centre.

Marie Collins is a survivor of Clerical abuse. She praised Christine for her courage.

The daughter of a Nigerian medical student and a married Dublin woman, Christine was abandoned at three weeks old and subsequently brought up in the Goldenbridge orphanage.

Some of her experiences were outlined the the 1996 documentary 'Dear Daughter'. She is survived by her husband Donal and children Darragh, Conor and Cliona.

Christine's husband Donal told The Pat Kenny Show here on Newstalk that she fought for everyone.

Shortly after the publication of the Ryan Report into institutional child abuse, Ms. Buckley described her beatings at the hands of one of the nuns at Goldenbridge.

Buckley was a woman of courage, and that she contributed enormously to a sea change in the Church's attitude to survivors of abuse.

Archbishop Martin previously washed the feet of Christine Buckley and Clerical abuse survivor Marie Collins.