IRELAND
Irish Independent
Nicola Anderson – 23 October 2013
A WRITER who survived years of abuse at a religious institution collapsed after making an impassioned speech at a protest against government cuts.
Patrick Touher (72), from Balbriggan, who wrote ‘Fear of the Collar, my Terrifying Childhood in Artane‘, was sent into the care of the Christian Brothers at the age of eight after the death of his mother and the departure of his father, who left the country.
In his book, he wrote about years of physical and sexual abuse during his time at Artane.
Two other people are believed to have collapsed at yesterday’s protest which saw up to 5,000 demonstrators, most of them elderly, descend on Leinster House.
Many had travelled from the farthest-flung parts of the country and carried placards attacking the Government.
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