RYAN REPORT - ARTANE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL
WARNING: SOME OF THE FOLLOWING TESTIMONIES MAY BE HARROWING TO READ |
Pseudonyms were used for the names of the Christian Brother's in the Ryan Report to protect their identity.
Tom Connors Artane 1957-1964
My name is Tom Connors,
I was in Artane Industrial School from 1957 until 1964 the years Br. McKeon (The Macker) was in charge of the playground and Br. Joseph O’Connor (Joeboy) was in charge of the band.
I am 70 years old now and even to this day, I can still remember my school number, 13833 after all these years. But that is not all I can remember, I remember a number of incidences that involved both of these Brothers but for all the wrong reasons, all of which were of a sexual nature.
I am presently writing a book in regards to all that has happened in that hellhole of a place called Artane Industrial School, and I hope to have it published before I die.
One particular incident I have put into the book involved a chest of drawers in which Joeboy put my head in and buggered me as my head was in the drawer. Anyone who has been in Artane would remember to showers every Saturday morning and what the Macker did to every one during the showers.
The Book is called “THE CRIES OF THE INNOCENTS” Artane the scourge of my Childhood, and it will be telling everything that happened including the death of my friend Colm Dunne who did needlessly and all because of the Brother Beacon the Brother in charge of the infirmary, who had no medical knowledge whatsoever.
Colm Suffered for nearly three years with chest pains and every time he made a complaint he was told by the Macker that it was a figment of his imagination, and received a clatter for his trouble.
However, I have been in the infirmary a number of times after being sexually abused by either Joeboy or the Macker as well as other brothers named in the book.
While in the infirmary, I have witnessed Br. Beacon molesting Colm Dunne two days before he died of Leukemia, and it galled me to see him, Joeboy, and the Macker throw clay into Colm’s grave,the three Brothers who sexually abused on a regular basis.
With kind Regards,
Tommy
Time to Disband the Artane Band
I was in Artane Industrial School from 1957 until 1964 the years Br. McKeon (The Macker) was in charge of the playground and Br. Joseph O’Connor (Joeboy) was in charge of the band.
I am 70 years old now and even to this day, I can still remember my school number, 13833 after all these years. But that is not all I can remember, I remember a number of incidences that involved both of these Brothers but for all the wrong reasons, all of which were of a sexual nature.
I am presently writing a book in regards to all that has happened in that hellhole of a place called Artane Industrial School, and I hope to have it published before I die.
One particular incident I have put into the book involved a chest of drawers in which Joeboy put my head in and buggered me as my head was in the drawer. Anyone who has been in Artane would remember to showers every Saturday morning and what the Macker did to every one during the showers.
The Book is called “THE CRIES OF THE INNOCENTS” Artane the scourge of my Childhood, and it will be telling everything that happened including the death of my friend Colm Dunne who did needlessly and all because of the Brother Beacon the Brother in charge of the infirmary, who had no medical knowledge whatsoever.
Colm Suffered for nearly three years with chest pains and every time he made a complaint he was told by the Macker that it was a figment of his imagination, and received a clatter for his trouble.
However, I have been in the infirmary a number of times after being sexually abused by either Joeboy or the Macker as well as other brothers named in the book.
While in the infirmary, I have witnessed Br. Beacon molesting Colm Dunne two days before he died of Leukemia, and it galled me to see him, Joeboy, and the Macker throw clay into Colm’s grave,the three Brothers who sexually abused on a regular basis.
With kind Regards,
Tommy
Time to Disband the Artane Band
BROTHER BEAUFORT
7.75 Br Beaufort8 was on the staff of Artane throughout the 1940s and early 1950s
7.76 Br Beaufort thought that the boy was laughing at him in class and responded impetuously:
(Witness)
"he jumped straight at me, picked me up, threw me like a dog around the place. I hit desks, hit the floor. I landed after some time on the floor. The commotion of boys screaming had brought Br Quintrell,10 who was in 11 school, which was the next school, he flew in and pulled him off. I know I was unconscious, and I know to God that if it hadn’t been for him coming in, I do not think I would be here today, in all honesty. The attack was vicious. Moments later, he was apologising, crying.
7.76 Br Beaufort thought that the boy was laughing at him in class and responded impetuously:
(Witness)
"he jumped straight at me, picked me up, threw me like a dog around the place. I hit desks, hit the floor. I landed after some time on the floor. The commotion of boys screaming had brought Br Quintrell,10 who was in 11 school, which was the next school, he flew in and pulled him off. I know I was unconscious, and I know to God that if it hadn’t been for him coming in, I do not think I would be here today, in all honesty. The attack was vicious. Moments later, he was apologising, crying.
BROTHER OLIVIER
7.89 Br Olivier served in Artane in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He said that all Brothers were issued with a leather strap to maintain discipline
7.91 Several witnesses complained about Br Olivier’s excessive use of physical punishment. One witness said he used to punch boys on the jaw without warning. The Brother responded to this allegation by saying:
Yes. That could be. I am not denying it. I cannot remember any specific case ... but I am not denying that such a thing could have happened.
7.105 Br Olivier was also involved in a shocking incident that began when a 12-year-old boy accidentally defecated on the floor in the sports dressing room. The Brother came on the scene and some of the excrement ended up on his shoes.. but what is admitted in statements made by Br Olivier is that he told the boy to lick the excrement from his shoes and he did so.
7.109 The Congregation of the Christian Brothers deny the incident even though Br Olivier remembers the incident.
7.110The former resident did not proceed with his complaint before the Investigation Committee
7.91 Several witnesses complained about Br Olivier’s excessive use of physical punishment. One witness said he used to punch boys on the jaw without warning. The Brother responded to this allegation by saying:
Yes. That could be. I am not denying it. I cannot remember any specific case ... but I am not denying that such a thing could have happened.
7.105 Br Olivier was also involved in a shocking incident that began when a 12-year-old boy accidentally defecated on the floor in the sports dressing room. The Brother came on the scene and some of the excrement ended up on his shoes.. but what is admitted in statements made by Br Olivier is that he told the boy to lick the excrement from his shoes and he did so.
7.109 The Congregation of the Christian Brothers deny the incident even though Br Olivier remembers the incident.
7.110The former resident did not proceed with his complaint before the Investigation Committee
BRUTAL EXTREME VIOLENCE
SERIAL CHILD RAPISTS
BROTHER PLATT
BROTHER RICARD
BROTHER LAMAR
BROTHER VERRILL
BROTHER KAREL
ASSAULT'S IN BED
BROTHER ARMANDE
BROTHER ETIENNE
BROTHER GAILLARD
BROTHER EDGARD
BROTHER GUSTAV
BROTHER BRUCE
BROTHER LANCELIN
BROTHER TRISTAN
BROTHER DENNIS
BROTHER ADRIEN
BROTHER LAURENT
BROTHER LEROI
BROTHER JULIEN
BROTHER HERVE
DENIAL OF EDUCATION
CHILD LABOUR
NO TOILET FACILITIES
DEGRADING TREATMENT
ABSOLUTE DENIAL
FORMER RESIDENT COMPLAINT 1946 TO DEPT OF EDUCATION
WHERE THE EVIDENCE CAME FROM
7.65 The material available to the Investigation Committee in considering this issue included:
WHERE THE EVIDENCE CAME FROM
7.65 The material available to the Investigation Committee in considering this issue included:
- The evidence of former residents and members of staff.
- The evidence of Dr Paul McQuaid, Consultant Child Psychiatrist, who did some work and research in Artane.
- The report written by Fr Henry Moore in 1962, together with his evidence to the Investigation Committee.
- Department of Education discovery.
- Garda Síochána discovery.
- Contemporary documents including the Visitation Reports compiled by the Christian Brothers during the period under review.
- Letters on the subject of corporal punishment provided by the Christian Brothers.
For many giving testimonies to the Ryan Report the experience was too overwhelming and could not go through the process,. Others, just simply did not go at all.