Wednesday, June 11, 2014
CIty OF artIFICE
opera gets gritty »p13
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WIN A SAMSUNG GEAR FIT FOR FATHER’S DAY »p8
‘No blame’ baby inquiry
THE STATE inquiry into how 35,000 un- by Ed Carty married mothers spent time in ten homes run by religious orders in Ireland is to in- out of wedlock ‘were deemed to be an investigate the ‘shameful past of Irish soci- ferior sub-species’. Children’s Minister Charlie Flanagan has ety’ rather than seek to apportion blame, been charged with determining the scope of the Taoiseach has said. The inquiry has been ordered after mas- the inquiry, in consultation with survivors, sive national and international focus on campaigners, organisations involved and the story of one home, run by the Sisters politicians. The Catholic and Protestant of the Bon Secours in Tuam, Co Galway, churches with any involvement in the homes, where the remains of 796 infants are be- or links to religious orders which ran them, will be asked to open their records. lieved to be buried. ‘Tuam should not be looked at in isola‘This was Ireland of the ’20s to the ’60s – an Ireland that might be portrayed as a tion because we have had mother and glorious and brilliant past, but in its shad- baby homes right up and down the counows contained all of these personal cases, try,’ Mr Flanagan said. Tanya Ward, chief executive of the Chilwhere people felt ashamed, felt different, were suppressed, dominated,’ Mr Kenny dren’s Rights Alliance, said the inquiry is a first step in establishing the truth. told the Dáil. ‘Uncovering the dark hisThe Taoiseach said that tory of how we treated unrather than apportioning married mothers and their blame to any particular quarchildren is vital for us to ter, there was a broader questruly acknowledge our past,’ tion to be answered about the she said. kind of society Ireland was. In a statement, Catholic ‘This essentially is about bishops in Ireland apolothe kind of country Ireland gised for the Church’s part was, where women in parin the harrowing conditions. ticular were the focus of ‘It is disturbing that the shame and suppression,’ he said. Mr Kenny said babies born Kenny: Focus on society turn to page 4
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Keep Dublin tidy – Please recycle this Metro Herald when you are finished with it
THAT’S A LOAD OFF: The ‘Christ the King’ statue is returned to Moran Park in Dún Laoghaire after the popular sculpture by Irish American artist Andew O’Connor was removed in 2012 to allow the town’s landmark new library to be built
PICTURE: jason ClaRkE