IRELAND
Irish Independent
By INDEPENDENT.IE REPORTERS and SARAH STACK
Tuesday January 10 2012
JOURNALIST Mary Raftery (54) whose documentary ‘States of Fear’ exposed the extent of physical and sexual abuse of children in State run institutions, has died following an illness.
For the last 15 years she had been a fearless critic of both Church and State.
The 1999 documentary chronicled the horrific conditions of children who were cared for in Irish orphanages run by religious orders.
Her work led to the establishment of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse and later the Residential Institutions Redress Board which provided compensation to victims of abuse in institutions run by 18 religious orders.
Colm O’Gorman, who founded the One in Four organisation for victims of sex abuse tweeted: “Very sad to hear about the death of Mary Raftery. One of our finest journalists & filmmakers. A courageous, principled, wonderful woman.”
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