NORTHERN IRELAND
News Letter
Columnist Nick Garbutt
Published on the 04 September 2014
The sickening stories emerging from the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry in Banbridge this week bring shame and infamy on the perpetrators of grotesque crimes against children.
Let’s be absolutely clear about this: the export of unwanted children to Australia was a form of ethnic cleansing which echoed the transportation of criminals to that continent in the previous century.
The cruelty involved and the pain and suffering that resulted from it is almost beyond comprehension – especially when you consider that those responsible for inflicting it included religious orders and respected charities.
Some of the witnesses have found that even giving evidence to the inquiry is deeply painful and traumatic and have complained that they have not had sufficient help and support to get them through the ordeal.
Let us hope that their courage in coming forward is not in vain and that justice is ultimately done.
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