Meeting with Pope spurs abuse victim to work with survivors
As one of a group of eight survivors of clerical and institutional abuse invited to meet Pope Francis during his Papal visit to Ireland in 2018, Damian O’Farrell was struck that Pope Francis appeared not to have been briefed on the existence of Magdalene Laundries.
Damian is a long-time advocate and campaigner for the rights of clerical child sexual abuse victims and achieved Ireland’s first known criminal conviction of a Christian Brother in March 1998.
He has worked to highlight the litigation strategy of the order, appearing recently on an award-winning Prime Time programme. Damian also participated in the recent Government scoping inquiry in respect of day school pupils who were sexually abused.
Damian said: “My advocacy work over the years has brought me into contact with survivors of institutional abuse, including those who had been confined in industrial schools and other institutions.
“I thought that whatever happened to me as a child I could always go home to my mother, whilst institutional abuse survivors had nowhere to turn for comfort, no warmth, no touch, no escape. The lack of basic humanity denied to so many is incomprehensible”.
Damian has struggled with the word ‘historical’ believing there is nothing historical about the aftermath of institutional abuse, it is enduring and always present.
The conversation with Pope Francis resonated with Damian and when a dedicated role to work with survivors of institutional abuse arose in Sage Advocacy, he resolved to pursue the opportunity. Sage Advocacy is the National Advocacy Service for Older People.
It also provides support and advocacy to vulnerable adults and healthcare patients in situations where no other service is available to them. At the request of the Department of Education, Sage Advocacy expanded its services to support survivors of institutional abuse.
There are many challenges facing survivors, and in this regard, accessing information and necessary supports is vital.
Damian, on behalf of Sage Advocacy extends a warm welcome to survivors of institutional abuse and their family members, as well as members of the public interested in the work of Sage Advocacy, to a drop-in information session in Shearwater Hotel, Ballinasloe, Thursday, March 6, between 12pm and 4pm.