The sixth anniversary of the publication of the Ryan report has been marked by "a pampering day" at Dublin's Aislinn centre. Founded by the late Christine Buckley and Carmel McDonnell Byrne, the centre helps survivors of institutional abuse.
The 2,600 word report followed an investigation by the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, chaired by Justice Seán Ryan, into the neglect, physical, sexual, and emotional abuse of children in institutions run by 18 religious congregations. It was published on May 20th, 2009.
The anniversary was marked with "a day for survivors . . . with 86 people here", said Aislinn's Annemarie Kennedy.
There were reiki healing sessions and massage, while volunteer barbers gave haircuts to men. There was also nail polishing and flower arranging.
Guitarist Eddie Moore supplied music, while poet Declan Collinge read his poem De Profoundis, dedicated to the memory of Christine Buckley.
Christine Buckley
Christine Buckley (67) died in March 2014 after a long illness. Daughter of a Dublin mother and a Nigerian father, she spent her childhood in Dublin's Goldenbridge orphanage. Her experiences there led to the hard-hitting 1996 documentary Dear Daughter.
She lobbied government to set up a commission to investigate what had happened to children in institutions such as Goldenbridge, and also took part in Mary Raftery's three-part States of Fear series in April/May 1999, which precipitated a government announcement on the setting up of the commission and a redress board to compensate survivors.
