In My Own Words [Still Running]

In June 1964, a twelve-year old child was summonsed to appear at Dublin’s Children’s Court. The offence for which he was charged related to an amateurish break-in. In terms of gravity the misbehaviour was hardly more than a prank. In the severe surroundings of that oak panelled court. Mickey was sentenced to serve Three years hard labour in what was then known as an industrial school. Letterfrack Industrial School to which he was sent is situated in Connemara, one of Ireland’s most isolated regions.Its seclusion in this malevolent place of correction was a major factor in the institutionalised abuse of children by the Christian Brothers.During his sentence Mickey, and the hundreds of other children who passed through this den of depravity, were methodically physically and mentally tortured and abused. With Taliban-like zeal the Christian Brothers methodically administered random life threatening beatings merely on a whim; Sexual depravity was also the lot of those unfortunate enough to have been sentenced to industrial schools.The toil was unrelentingly hard manual labour. In many cases it meant being awoken before dawn and worked until dusk. Unsuitably dressed to withstand the elements. Their labours were invariably accompanied by whippings, kicking, beatings and constant exhortations that they work harder. Punishments were carried out randomly and often without reason on a day to day basis. Is it because it happened so recently? Is it because it is where the bodies are buried? Many of the unfortunate children who died at Letterfrack Industrial School have no recognised Christian resting place. Is it not time to reflect and perhaps remove from the grave some of Ireland’s darkest secrets? Mickey Finn.