Bishop Daly tells inquiry he admired vital work of nuns

The Irish News
May 21, 2014

http://www.irishnews.com/news/bishop-daly-tells-inquiry-he-admired-vital-work-of-nuns-1355880

FORMER Bishop of Derry Edward Daly has defended the Sisters of Nazareth for doing what "nobody else was doing" and caring for children during years of "abominable" poverty and violence in the city.

Dr Daly was giving evidence to the Historical Inquiry into Institutional Abuse yesterday and said he had "always admired" the sisters' work but, like other community leaders, had taken them "for granted".

The senior cleric said in his 36 years in active ministry as diocesan priest and bishop he had received one complaint about the Sisters of Nazareth.

Dr Daly said he had no involvement in the running of the two homes the order operated in the diocese and had been unaware they were under-staffed and under-resourced.

He said he was surprised to learn only two sisters were in charge of a large group of boys in St Joseph's home in Termonbacca, outside Derry.

"We all took the sisters for granted. The sisters were there, we knew they were being cared for, perhaps people in the community, leaders in the community like myself, took them for granted.

"They were doing work that needed to be done, that nobody else was doing," he told the inquiry sitting in Banbridge.

"I think we are all responsible for not knowing but I was surprised that so few sisters were involved and they looked after 5,000 children and one wonders what would have happened to those children if the sisters hadn't been there".

Dr Daly said the sisters had cared for children in times of extreme violence in Derry, including two world wars.

He described the poverty and over-crowding in the Bogside, where he worked as a cleric in the 1960s as "a culture shock", adding: "I had never before experienced poverty of that nature".

The 81-year-old was still a priest when he was pictured waving a bloodied white handkerchief as he tried to lead one victim to safety on Bloody Sunday after British paratroopers shot dead 13 civil rights protesters.

The former bishop added that responsibility for the children's homes lay with the Sisters of Nazareth mother house in England and he was "as guilty as everyone else" for not knowing they were under resourced.

"The sisters were out in rain, snow, sun, knocking on doors begging for money, getting a sixpence here, a thruppenny bit somewhere else, and that's how they raised funds."

Dr Daly said he had received one complaint about the congregation from a former resident who had been separated from her brother during a child migration scheme in the 1940s.

"I always admired their work... in 36 years I had one single complaint, one, about the Sisters of Nazareth and it came from a lady in Australia, in Melbourne..."

The former bishop said he had "huge sympathy for all victims of violence and abuse" particularly those who suffered "at the hand of people who were committed to Christ, either in priesthood or sisterhood or brotherhood, they had a special responsibility and it's important their experiences be listened to and acknowledged".

Earlier in the day Sr Brenda McCall gave evidence on behalf of the Sisters of Nazareth congregation.

The order has already apologised for the sexual and physical abuse of children in its care in a statement read to

the inquiry when it opened in January and Sr Brenda extended that apology yesterday to include those who had suffered emotional abuse and neglect.

She told the inquiry: "I think having listened to evidence given here which was very shocking and harrowing for us, we must accept that at certain times by certain sisters things were just not right."

The senior nun added that the order "totally and absolutely" apologised for emotional abuse and neglect and accepted that children had been assaulted while under the care of the sisters in Termonbacca, both by older boys, lay staff and volunteers.

Sr Brenda also accepted there had been a degree of knowledge among sisters that peer sexual experimentation and abuse was taking place in Termonbacca.

Christine Smith QC said it would be unfair to suggest the Sisters of Nazareth had never apologised, as some witnesses have claimed, to which Sr Brenda added: "There has been individuals apologised to if they have come forward in the last few years."

Sr Brenda concluded by expressing deep regret that children had suffered in their care.

She said: "We were a human group, a human organisation and we had people that were champions to the cause and we had people who were a bit weaker and all I can say is we had some wonderful, heroic, I would say inspirational, sisters and I am proud to stand on their shoulders and carry on the work of the congregation.

"On behalf of the congregation I would like to reiterate our apology to former residents of Nazareth Houses and say that we deeply, deeply regret and most sincerely apologise for any mistreatment or hurt they received while in our care."

* GIVING EVIDENCE: Former Bishop of Derry Edward Daly leaves Banbridge Courthouse yesterday after giving evidence to the Historical Inquiry into Institutional Abuse. Right, Sr Brenda McCall, who represented the Sisters of Nazareth, leaves the court after apologising on behalf of the order for any abuse of children under their care PICTURES: Mal McCann