GARDAI in Cobh, Co Cork, have said no official complaint has been received from a woman who alleges she was mistreated over a 15 year period while resident at the Sacred Heart Orphanage near the town.
Supt Maurice Murray of Cobh yesterday said the woman, Ms Marion Gash, now married and living in Kinsale, Co Cork, had been in touch with him by telephone. He said she was obviously angry concerning her experiences in the orphanage.
However, Supt Murray added that while Ms Gash had indicated her intention to go to a solicitor about her treatment, no formal correspondence had taken place between the gardai and her legal representative.
"Naturally, we will act if there is a formal complaint in writing, but until that happens, you can take it that there is no investigation," he said. The Sacred Heart Orphanage, at Rushbrooke, is run by the Sisters of Mercy, who also ran the Goldenbridge Orphanage in Dublin and St Kyran's in Rathdrum, Co Wicklow.
Yesterday, Sister Coirle McCarthy, of the Provincial Leadership, Sisters of Mercy in Munster, in a statement on behalf of the order, said: "My understanding is that a complaint was made to the gardai in Cobh. We have not yet received any details as to the nature of the complaint. As soon as we have received notification, we will co operate with whatever inquires are made by the gardai or by any other statutory body."
Regarding a second complaint that abuse also took place at the order's Nazareth House Orphanage, at Balloonach, near Tralee, Co Kerry, Sister Coirle said that although she was aware that the complainant, Ms Geraldine McCarthy, of Innishannon, Co Cork, was a resident at the orphanage, she had not been furnished with details of the ease.
Ms McCarthy, who is married with children, spent 18 years at Nazareth House, which has been closed for some years. She claims that from childhood to her teenage years she suffered abuse and beatings. It is understood Ms McCarthy is also seeking legal advice.
Sister Coirle said the order left a heartfelt regret at the hurt and pain of so many people, and reiterated that the Sisters of Mercy would co operate fully with whatever Investigations might take place.
Meanwhile, reported claims by an orphan girl that she and her sister were abused by nuns at a home run by the Mercy Order in Clifden, Co Galway, in the 1940s, were described yesterday as "highly exaggerated" by a nun who was there at the time.
A Garda spokesman in Clifden said he was unaware of any complaints ever being made about the home.
The nun, who requested that her name not be used, said she remembered the woman who was reported to have made the allegations, and her sister coming to be cared for in St Joseph's Home, Clifden, after their mother died.
"We looked on all the children as being very precious and we did the best we could for them," said the nun, who is based in the Mercy Convent, Clifden. St Joseph's Home closed about 10 years ago.