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UN Committee calls for investigation into prosecutions following Ryan Report

Torture Commission is ‘gravely concerned’ by its findings in Ireland

CATHY HAYES,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Monday, June 6, 2011, 2:11 PM

Updated Monday, June 6, 2011, 2:14 PM

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In the first review of its kind carried out in Ireland the UNCAT (Committee against Torture) called for a prompt investigations into prosecutions over the Ryan Report into child abuse in church-run institutes.

The United Nations watchdog on torture has releases its findings from an investigation into the treatment of inmates in prisons, orphanages at Catholic Church workhouses.

The UN committee now urges the Irish Government to reveal how they will implement all the recommendations made by the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Investigation. The said every case of abuse should be investigated and prosecuted if appropriate.

The UN committee claims following the Ryan Report 11 cases had been selected for prosecutions but eight of these were rejected. The Ryan Report, carried out over nine years, was released in 2009. It catalogued chronic sexual, physical and emotional torture by both religious and lay staff in Church run institutions.

“The committee is also gravely concerned that despite the findings of the Ryan Report that ’physical and emotional abuse and neglect were features of the institutions and that sexual abuse occurred in many of them, particularly boys’ institutions’, there has been no follow up by the state party,” stated the assessment.

The committee also returned a damning critique of Ireland’s prisons. They said they were deeply concerned over overcrowding and the practice of a daily “slopping out”.

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The Irish Government has been called on to adopt specific timeframes for building new prison facilities. They have also been urged to stop the practice of “slopping out”.

“While noting the efforts by the State party to provide all cells with in-cell sanitation, the committee is deeply concerned at the continuing practice of ’slopping out’ in some of the prisons in the state party, which amounts to inhuman and degrading treatment,” said the assessment.

It also raised questions over the level of violence being used in Irish prisons. It referred to specific allegations from members of the Traveller community in Cork who were being intimidated by other inmates.

Deirdre Duffy, The Irish Council for Civil Liberties research and policy officer, said: “As the Ryan and Murphy reports show us, Ireland is slowly waking from a culture of impunity…The UN committee’s recommendations have today underlined that tackling impunity requires a two-prong approach of prevention and redress.”

Human rights expert Maeve O’Rourke, who presented The Justice for Magdalene’s (JFM) submission to the committee during its two days of public hearings last month, said she was hopeful the Irish Government will honor its obligations to those who have suffered.

“Having suffered torture or ill-treatment, in which the state directly participated and which it knowingly failed to prevent, the women have the ongoing right to an investigation, an apology, redress and treatment with dignity,” she said.

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Collette2 | Jun 07, 2011, 12:39 AM EDT

This may be one time in history we are going to see justice is fully done. We also have Geoffrey Robinson QC and the International Human and Ethical Union to thank, in particular the later for bringing before the United Nations the lack of accountability on the sex-buse of Catholic children worldwide, in September 2009. I hope countries and groups follow the lead of their Irish counter parts.

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mamaginnty | Jun 06, 2011, 04:52 PM EDT

The U.N should have stepped into the abuse cases of children by the clergy also. The Magdalene abusers, nuns, were every bit as evil as the male crergy. As for the slopping out in prison, it is supposed to be a punishment if you are sent to prison for whatever crime. Prison is far too soft now, I have heard people say..oh it wasn't that bad, like a hotel, had me own telly and was better fed than at home, and had me week-end brakes to meet up with me mates. Some dogooders want the prisoners to have thier cake with fresh cream only. The punishment should fit the crime.

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CaptainCon | Jun 06, 2011, 03:28 PM EDT

Magnificent work by the Justice for Magdalene group and Maeve O'Rourke has been deeply impressive in her work with the group also. I have to say I watched tape of the Secretary General of the Irish Department of Justice make a complete idiot of himself by informing the UN committee that the Magdalenes would have to complain to the Gardai before any investigation could be launched. Mr Sean Aylward promptly had his arse handed to him by the UN Committee who pointed out Ireland's obligations under UN membership did not require a report and did not accept 'ommission' to investigate. Aywlard's attempt to say the state was not responsible for 'private' institutions was also handed back to him in no uncertain manner when it was pointed out that Gardai captured escapees and returned them to the institions where inmates were held de facto prisoner. He ended up, along with the Irish Government who he sougt to represent at that meeting, looking like a little boy who had been caught not doing his homework. Well done to the UN Committee for upending this lying nonsense from Irish civil servants.

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