Donagh victim calls for public enquiry

Editorial Department • Published 1 Oct 2010 09:00

A survivor of McDermott brothers sexual abuse case in Donagh will today (Thursday) call for a full public enquiry into the “mismanagement of the Justice and Health departments” as the two committees meet in a public evidence session at Stormont.

The victim, known as Martin to protect his anonymity, believes that a public enquiry “would get to the truth as to how two paedophiles were allowed to return to the village where they abused children over 30 years”. A joint committee for Justice and Health meets today in the Senate Chamber in Stormont to hear from both Ministers for Health and Justice about the implications of the McDermott case.Anything short of a public enquiry would be unacceptable, he believes.

“I speak for three of the victims in calling upon the Committee to initiate a public enquiry in this case due to the mismanagement of the Justice and Health Departments and to get to the truth as to how two paedophiles were allowed to return to the village where they abused children over 30 years. It was stated that a public enquiry would be very expensive. Whatever the cost of a public enquiry, it would be minuscule in comparison, to the pain and suffering of the victims and the lifelong sentence that has been handed down by the evil perpetrators in this case. Anything short of a public enquiry, would be unacceptable. Such an enquiry, we would hope, would answer any questions, and provide the answers needed so that the reasons for the catalogue of errors that occurred can be established and permanent solutions found, so that no other victim of abuse would have to go through the same trauma,” he said.

This enquiry should be about finding solutions, not someone to blame, he added.

“On 18 June 2010 I thought my journey was at an end. I eagerly awaited justice through the law courts and the opportunity of getting on with my life, but due to the unfortunate circumstances in this case, created by what I can only describe, as an imperfect legal system, I have been prevented from doing so. I think it is important for the members present at this committee meeting, to recognise, for some of the victims it has taken 38 years to get this far. The pain of blame, humiliation, rejection and self-loathing for those who have endured years of childhood psychological, physical and sexual abuse has taken its toll, not just on us but also our families. It is also very important to take into account, that the abuse in the village of Donagh has gone on for five decades, and has affected three or more generations. We all have to be mindful that not all of the victims have come forward and spoken their truth”.

Controversy has surrounded how the authorities dealt with the two McDermott brothers, Owen Roe and James, who were deemed mentally unfit to stand trial for sexually abusing children. In June they were allowed to return to live in Donagh where the abuse had taken place.

In July both men admitted themselves to hospital for treatment, after great objection to their presence in the village. Another brother, John Michael McDermott, 60, was jailed for nine years for his part in the abuse while a fourth brother, Peter Paul McDermott, 62, took his own life after the start of his trial in May.

The fall-out from the return of the two brothers to Donagh has kept the village in the news for months.

On Tuesday, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey apologised to the Assembly for an error he made when answering questions about the case the week before. He wrongly said that a doctor who gave evidence in the court case was not an employee of the Western Trust.

He failed to give his evidence on Monday to formally apologise for misleading the Assembly as he awaited legal advice. Fermanagh south Tyrone MLA Mrs Arlene Foster said his move had set “an extremely dangerous precedent so that ministers can pick and choose when they come to this House”.

“After the belligerent and sarcastic way in which he addressed me in the House, I would have thought that he would want to come to the House as quickly as possible. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that the Health Minister is aware that I will be out of the jurisdiction tomorrow, so, if he comes to the House tomorrow, I will not be in a position to respond,” she said.

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This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 30 Sep 10

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