The Kilkenny school sexual abuse case involving Martin O’Flaherty reveals the suffering of 29 boys, with recent court proceedings uncovering new victims after 40 years.
The HSE has failed to carry out thousands of assessments of needs within the statutory timeframe, affecting children’s access to support services.
John McClean, a former teacher at Terenure College, has been convicted of further offences in the Terenure College abuse scandal involving multiple former students.
Defective Blocks newsletter and latest updates.
Mother and Baby Homes redress newsletter and latest updates.
CAMHS newsletter and latest updates.
The Mother and Baby Homes Redress Scheme opened for applications on Wednesday, the 20th of March, 2024. This is very much welcomed news after a very long wait by survivors.
The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme opened on the 20th of March 2024. The Act passed all stages of the legislative process and was signed into law by President Michael D Higgins in July 2023.
The compensation levels go up depending on residency. See attached for detailed figures. The compensation starts at €5,000 and goes up after 90 days to €10,000. There are additional payments if the person engaged in what is termed as ‘commercial work.’
The Mother and Baby Homes Redress scheme has dealt a serious blow to former child residents of these institutions. The Mother and Baby Institutional Payment Scheme Act stipulates that all that have spent time in a relevant institution have been resident for 180 days or more to be eligible. The rates will be the same for the mothers once the residency requirement is satisfied.
It should be noted that Coleman Legal LLP continue to advance legal cases before the Courts in relation to this arbitrary restriction. Unfortunately, redress at this time is not being extended beyond that to other institutions not included in the list. See the link for a list of the institutions. List of institutions eligible for the scheme.
Despite the Oireachtas joint committee recommending that the list of institutions be expanded to include;
Even if you are not likely to be included in the scheme because of residency requirements or because your institution isn’t on the list, Coleman Legal LLP would still like to hear from you.
If you are a former resident of a mother and baby home, you are entitled to free counselling under the National Counselling Service, operated under the auspices of the HSE. Click here to see the geographical locations of your nearest counselling service. Counselling can also be arranged over the phone.
More information is available at this link Or those who are residents of the UK, below are several support organisations that may be able to help you;
Irish Community Services
Leeds Irish Health and Homes
ICAP (Immigrant Counselling and Psychotherapy)
The London Irish Centre
For anyone resident in the US, please see the link below to local Irish immigration centres;
Find Your Local Irish Center | Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers (ciic-usa.org)
Every applicant to the mother and baby homes payment scheme is entitled to seek assistance from their chosen solicitor with respect to the redress scheme. All applicants may seek the advice of a solicitor as part of the finalisation of an application/acceptance of an award. This comes in the form of legal advice for executing a valid legal waiver and assistance with a decision to accept or reject an award. In addition, this advice will include information about your right to bring a legal case in connection with your time in the institution and how those rights will be affected if you decide to accept the offer of redress.
Those accepting payments under the Scheme will be asked to sign a legal waiver stating that they will not then pursue a claim against the State through the courts. It is important that all applicants to the Scheme obtain legal advice regarding the implications of the legal waiver.
Coleman Legal LLP has worked with many clients over the past six years who have been residents in Mother and Baby Homes and County Homes, both as mothers and as children.
It is also important to note that if you wish to take up a copy of any records from your time in the institution you can do so by contacting Tusla at this link
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Web: www.colemanlegalpartners.ie
Online Enquiry Form: Apply
Head of Client Services
P: 1800-844-104
E: [email protected]
”At Coleman Legal, excellence in customer care is paramount. We aim to meet both prospective and existing client’s needs in a professional, engaging, and friendly manner with a clear objective to give quality legal advice and reach a positive outcome.”
