Sir, – As I was the abuse victim who spoke at the recent symposium in Rome, I would like to respond to the letter of Christine Buckley and Carmel McDonnell-Byrne (February 17th), to clarify some points.
This event was run by the Gregorian University in Rome, which invited an eminent British psychiatrist, Baroness Sheila Hollins, to be one of the presenters. She felt it would be beneficial to the symposium if her presentation was shared with a survivor.
She asked me if I would be willing to speak of my personal experience of the effects of child sexual abuse on my life. When I agreed, my name was then given to the organisers and they made my invitation official.
The symposium was not an investigation or discussion of child abuse in the church in Ireland – diocesan or institutional. It was an international event and a survivor taking part could have been from anywhere in the world.
I do not understand the statement in the letter of 17th that victims of institutional abuse would have spoken eloquently for themselves and “not be conditioned to speak at the symposium under Rome Rule”. I hope this is not a suggestion that I was “conditioned” by some sort of “Rome Rule” which made me acceptable to the organisers. I am independent as I always have been, I am not “conditioned” by anyone.
I would like to take the opportunity to make it clear I have never claimed to represent anyone other than myself. I have never spoken on institutional abuse and would never do so as it is not my experience. I say this as I have seen the contrary claimed elsewhere by another group.
There was no agenda behind my invitation to speak at this symposium, it was very straightforward. I hope this clarifies the situation. – Yours, etc,