Sir, - As one of the sufferers (as in Suffer the Little Children) I feel it is time that at least one of my kind came out in defence of Mary Raftery, in particular, and Eoin O'Sullivan. A chorus of voices, has arisen, saying: "Hey, it couldn't have been like that". Well, straight from the horses mouth, as it were - six years in Artane - it was.
Many of your correspondents imply that Mary Raftery is blaming all religious involved in the institutions. Not so. She specifically says in States of Fear that only a minority of nuns and brothers were involved. In Suffer the Little Children she continually makes the point that religious orders in general were responsible for the wrong-doings. That obviously absolves the majority of individuals. Piccola O'Dowd (January 26th) makes a very good case for such an assessment, i.e. that the majority were blameless.
I would also commend Ms O'Dowd for her vision in spotting a very important aspect of the whole tragic episode, in that she points out the terrible oversight in sending children out into an unknown world. I take issue, however, with her premise that only former residents were interviewed for the TV programme and the book. It is on record that all religious orders and personnel accused of irregularities were invited to take part in the programme and to contribute to the book. In almost all cases they refused the invitations. What had they to fear and/or hide?
Mary Raftery should be congratulated by all decent and unbiased people for her work in bringing the shameful circumstances of our, now defunct, institutions to public knowledge. I am sure that all former sufferers, and perhaps, the general public, will join me in suggesting that, in due course, some form of public recognition be conferred on her. - Yours, etc.,
Peter Pallas, Ballynacally, Ennis, Co Clare.