Cardinal Brady and Religious Congregations meet with survivors of Institutional Abuse in Northern Ireland
Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and representatives of Religious Congregations who were involved in residential care in Northern Ireland met today with the group known as Survivors and Victims of Institutional Abuse in Northern Ireland (SAVIA). While both the Cardinal and the Religious Congregations present have met with former residents of institutions in the past, this was their first meeting with SAVIA.
Speaking after the meeting, Cardinal Brady said:
‘I want to thank the representatives of SAVIA for meeting with us today and for our wide-ranging discussion. They courageously and honestly shared the truth of their experiences with us and the long term impact on their lives. The representatives highlighted a number of issues for our consideration and response. These included acknowledging and believing the truth of their experience, that an apology would be given and that there would be full cooperation with the Inquiry.
On behalf of all those present at the meeting I wish to confirm that we believe the experiences the group shared with us and acknowledge its on-going impact on their lives. We apologise wholeheartedly and without reserve for the abuse that they suffered as children. We remain committed to fully cooperating with the Inquiry.
We welcome the generous acknowledgement by SAVIA of the good people who were also part of their childhood in institutions.’
Those present at the meeting today were;
Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh
Sr Marianne O’Connor, Director General of the Conference of Religious of Ireland (CORI)
Representatives of:
The Sisters of the Good Shepherd
The Sisters of St. Louis
The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Nazareth
ENDS
Further information:
Catholic Communications Office Maynooth: Martin Long 00353 (0) 86 172 7678
