THE Fianna Fail spokeswoman on health, Mrs Maire Geoghegan Quinn, has called on the Minister for Health, Mr Noonan, to initiate an to the treatment inquiry in of children at the former Sisters of Mercy orphanage at Goldenbridge, Inchicore, Dublin.
Mrs Geoghegan Quinn compared the conditions in the Dublin orphanage at the time to those in Chinese orphanages. The lapse of time shouldn't be an excuse for not having an inquiry. The surviving victims of Goldenbridge deserve an inquiry.
The Mercy Order issued an apology this week for the abuse which took place at the orphanage in the 1940s and 1950s.
The Children's Rights Alliance said that Dear Daughter, the documentary about the orphanage screened by RTE on Thursday night, highlighted the need for child protection legislation in the Child Care Act, 1991.
Sister Helena O'Donoghue, spokeswoman for the Mercy Order, said that it would co operate fully with anyone seeking information.
A help line set up by the Sisters of Mercy received over 150 calls on Thursday night following the screening of the RTE documentary. The lines were busy again yesterday and the help line will remain open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. over the weekend and for as long as is necessary in the coming weeks. The Sisters of Mercy help line in the Republic is 1-800-800-123. Callers in Northern Ireland should phone 0800-973-043.