Thursday 30 January 2014 15.25 Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore have apologised to abuse victim Louise O'Keeffe.
The apology comes after the European Court of Human Rights this week ruled that the State was liable for the sexual abuse she suffered while a national school pupil.
Mr Kenny apologised to Ms O'Keeffe for what had happened to her and for the horrendous experience that she had to go through.
He described Ms O'Keeffe as "an example of a woman of extraordinary commitment over a long number of years to following her case", which she had taken before the High Court, Supreme Court and the ECHR.
"Sadly, it's one that's indicative of a long litany of cases in Ireland," Mr Kenny said. "That's why in the past we've had to deal with an exceptional number of cases that scar our memory.
"And for that reason, I just think that while this judgment is exceptionally complex and will be studied by Government, I would like to say to Louise O'Keeffe that I apologise for what happened to her in the location she was in and the horrendous experience she had to go through."
Ms O'Keeffe has said she appreciates and accepts the Taoiseach's apology and she appreciates that he did it quickly.
She said she believed he was apologising on all accounts, both the abuse and the fact that it happened to her in a State-run national school.
"The Taoiseach has apologised. He has done so very graciously and for that I do accept the apology and appreciate that he did make it," she said.
Ms O'Keeffe said she did not look for an apology for herself, but for all of the victims of abuse in schools because there are many who have not come forward.
"I am simply one of hundreds and an apology is for everyone because I wasn't alone," she said.
She called on Mr Kenny to now work quickly to bring in legislation to protect school children.
Ms O'Keeffe said that had she received an apology 15 years ago, she would not have been forced to bring her case to the ECHR.
She said she did not understand why the State had fought her case.
"I was an eight-year-old child, abused, a complaint had been made. It wasn't acted on. If it had been acted on, well, I'd have had a safe childhood. Wrong was done. I think hands should have been held up," she said.
Speaking to RTÉ News, Ms O'Keeffe said she had no advance contact from the Taoiseach or his officials prior to the apology.
She said it was a matter for the Taoiseach himself whether he felt it necessary to make contact with her personally.
Her solicitor Ernest Cantillon thanked the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste for their apologies and said they were graciously accepted.
In a statement, Mr Cantillon said that Ms O'Keeffe had already expressed her disappointment that an apology was not issued at a far earlier stage.
He said she was disappointed at the time it had taken to resolve her case, but added that the apology was better late than never.
Louise O'Keeffe browbeaten by State - Mary Lou McDonald
In the Dáil, Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald said that by any standards Ms O'Keeffe is a brave woman, who never lay down despite being bullied and browbeaten by the State.
Not alone should Ms O'Keeffe not have suffered abuse, she should not have been harangued, bullied and threatened by the State, she added.
Ms McDonald welcomed the Taoiseach's apology, but said those words of apology should have been uttered in the chamber of the Dáil.
She asked if the apology extends to 135 other adults who brought similar cases against the State and who received threatening letters saying that they would face legal costs if they pursued their cases.
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said Ms O'Keeffe should have had a carefree childhood and said her case is a reminder of the shocking scale of abuse.
He joined with the Taoiseach in apologising to her for what happened to her, adding that Cabinet will discuss the court judgment at next Tuesday's meeting.
He said the protection of children is a priority for the Government.
Speaking about the new Child and Family Agency and the forthcoming Children First legislation, he said that secrecy or ignorance is no longer accepted.
Ms O'Keeffe was nine years old when she was abused by teacher Leo Hickey at Dunderrow National School in Co Cork in 1973.
Decades later, Hickey was charged with 386 criminal offences involving 21 former Dunderrow pupils.
He was sentenced to three years in prison in 1998, after pleading guilty to 21 sample charges.
Ms O'Keeffe subsequently took legal action against the Department of Education, arguing that the State had failed to put in place appropriate protection measures to prevent and stop systematic sexual abuse at her school.
However, the High Court dismissed her claim that the State was liable.
The Supreme Court subsequently upheld that ruling, finding that while the State funded the education system, the management role of the Catholic Church was such that the State could not be held vicariously liable for the criminal acts of the teacher.
However, the ECHR found that the State was liable.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Kenny apologises to abuse victim Louise O'Keeffe
Dengan url
http://newsdeadlineup.blogspot.com/2014/01/kenny-apologises-to-abuse-victim-louise.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Kenny apologises to abuse victim Louise O'Keeffe
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Kenny apologises to abuse victim Louise O'Keeffe
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar