'In Treatment' star Gabriel Byrne reveals childhood abuse

Corporeal punishment was still in full swing when I was at school in Ireland, although it sort of stopped at secondary level (must have had something to do with the breasts coming in!). Boarding school was a constant tirade of sarcasm and degradation from the good Sisters. Forget the idea of positive reinforcement. I must have been asked “WHO do you think you are?” on a daily basis, and the requisite response was “I’m nobody Sister!” “That’s right, and don’t you FORGET IT” And after 5-6 years of that you really do go out into the world feeling quite anxious and inept, and start to seek confidence through booze or whatever. Not healthy at all! I’m so happy that Nunhood is on the verge of extinction. Good, it is a really unnatural way of life. And unlike the polar bears there’s no environmental group out lobbying for their protection!