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Donegal abuse victim vows to hunger strike if report not published

Delays continue on abuse report

JAMES O’SHEA,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Thursday, October 20, 2011, 8:16 AM

Updated Thursday, October 20, 2011, 11:11 AM

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19 Comments

John O'Donnell

Photo by Donegal Democrat

A man sexually abused as a child in Donegal will go on hunger strike outside the bishop’s residence if the report on abuse in the church in Donegal is not published. The report has been delayed for some time.

John G. O’Donnell now 55, was badly abused by two men for six years between the ages of 9 and 15. One man was head of the local church choir.

He told the Donegal Democrat: “when I met the Bishop in August, I told him to his face that I was prepared to on hunger strike over this issue. If the full, undiluted report is not released in the next few months, I will go on hunger strike.”

“The longer the report is delayed, the longer we are left without answers and the longer we are left suffering.

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“What is wrong that we can’t even get an apology? Church officials say they ‘understand our suffering’ but they can not even begin to know the pain that we have endured and continue to endure.

“We have been let down by both the Church and the State. When we tried to come forward to help others, we were the ones branded as evil - in my case by both clergy and guards.

“Even recently, when my story was told in a tabloid newspaper, an elderly lady stopped me in the street in Falcarragh. She asked me was I John O’Donnell. When I told here I was, she said I was ‘nothing but an Anti-Christ".

“The truth must come out, so that at least people can understand what really happened.”

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19 Comments

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merefalow | Nov 03, 2011, 03:57 PM EDT

the church should be like government,only total truth transparency and openess should be good enough,untill the church atones admits brings this evil out into the light of day,kicks the perpertrators out and make it plain to all that there is no place in the church for people of this type,they will have NO CREDABILITY..WE CAN DREAM

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AndrewSB49 | Oct 23, 2011, 08:46 AM EDT

Well said Captain; there are more good people on this island than those others who wish all this would blow over. Ireland is not going to return to the days when the cold, malign hands of the Church & State ruled us.

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Searlit | Oct 22, 2011, 12:30 PM EDT

I feel better knowing that barneyjo and CaptainCon are standing by Mr. O'Donnell. 'Together we stand, divided we fall.'

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barneyjo | Oct 22, 2011, 09:50 AM EDT

CaptainCon - One county is not enough. There needs to be enough good people in all of Ireland who are willing "to set this right"

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CaptainCon | Oct 22, 2011, 07:44 AM EDT

There are enough good people in Donegal to set this right- remember a year or so back when they turfed out the then FF 'safe seat' in Donegal North West? There are plenty of good people in Donegal who can tell right from wrong and don't just pick sides like a football supporter and stick with it come hell or high water like that wretched ethical sinkhole of a woman who berated John in the street. It is people like her who should have been in institutions- mental institutions. I've great respect for John despite being assaulted by Gardai, sneered at by ethical peasants and rejected at every turn. People in Donegal are better than the people John is up against.

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barneyjo | Oct 22, 2011, 06:01 AM EDT

.......If he does indeed decide to maintain a vigil, I'll be there; I'm only in the next county over :)

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barneyjo | Oct 22, 2011, 06:00 AM EDT

To pharaphrase JFK, and again, directed at concerned Catholics (and Christians) living in Donegal, in Ireland; "Ask not what this man can do for you, but what you can do for this man!!"

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Searlit | Oct 21, 2011, 10:51 PM EDT

Please don't go on a hunger strike. You've made it this far despite abuse from pedophile priests, an unconcionable garda and from what sounds like a crazy woman. I agree with rainbowbrew, too. Protest - only don't do anything extreme. There are many of us on your side.

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barneyjo | Oct 21, 2011, 05:30 PM EDT

A postscript to my earlier post, I reckon that the woman who berated him in his hometown is likely to have been one of those parishoners of the former priest Eugene Green who contributed enough money to buy him a retirement home in Galway after he was released from Prison. "Are there none so blind who do not see"

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Fintanoflaois | Oct 21, 2011, 03:48 PM EDT

No disrespect intended, but Mr. O'Donnell looks a lot older than 55. I suppose that's not surprising given the horrors he endured. I hope he doesn't go on hunger strike, as he has already suffered far more in his life than any person should have to, and he needs no more pain and discomfort. The report will be published in the fullness of time anyway. In the meantime, I salute Mr. O'Donnell for his courage and suggest that instead of hunger-striking, he just continues to tell his story and, perhaps, stands - well-fed and healthy - outside the cathedral and distributes leaflets telling his story. Best of luck and good health to you, Mr. O'Donnell. Justice will prevail in the end.

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canadianirish | Oct 20, 2011, 09:05 PM EDT

@rainbowbrew - What a brilliant idea! Love your idea of an 'Occupy the Vatican' rally on the Bishops home steps. Let's hope it materializes.

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barneyjo | Oct 20, 2011, 05:28 PM EDT

An open post to any posters on this site from Donegal - Why should this man have to even consider forsaking any of his remaining spirit, his life-force that that hasnt already been taken from him by the Catholic Church and it would seem by its cheer leaders also. IF there are practicing Catholics in the Donegal Dioceses who are genuinely appalled by the scandalization of their church by their own religious, then let them show it however they might. If John O'Donnell is on vigil outside the Bishops house, then let all sincere genuine catholics support him by joining him there. Or, if they cannot bring themselves to do that, then support him and the cause of other survivors and victims of abuse, by witholding financial support from their parishes for a period of one month (4 sundays) to see it that will focus minds and see the Raphoe Report published. For those that do truly care, doing nothing is not an option any longer. And for those who dont care, well they have enough to worry about themselves, if they but knew it!!!

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CaptainCon | Oct 20, 2011, 05:25 PM EDT

Apparently this Raphoe report was completed on 24th August. It should have been published but hasn't been because it would have been embarrassing for the church to have a report out that claimed new procedures in place only for new cases to hit the media AFTER these procedures. Also we need to ask questions about the Gardai in Donegal- there are too many reports of priests running and influencing Garda investigations in that area. I believe John was actually assaulted by a Garda when he went to report the attacks on him. I want that Garda's name on public record.

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rainbowbrew | Oct 20, 2011, 01:39 PM EDT

This has got to prove that the RCC is not capable of helping adn they never have been inclined to help the abused. Maybe Ireland needs an Occupy the vatican rally on the bishops home steps. Once again the bishop is protecting the criminals.

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Ernesider | Oct 20, 2011, 01:26 PM EDT

John O'Donnell has suffered far too much and for far too long. Can't the journalists use their voices more to help him heal.

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