Government considers Bethany home probe

Justice Minister Alan Shatter is considering demands for an investigation of the former Protestant-run Bethany Home

Labour TD Robert Dowds is putting down a Dail question to the Justice Minister Alan Satter based on Alan Shatter's letter to WIlliam Irwin MLA - see graphic. The question will ask:

"What consideration is being given to issues relating to the former Bethany Home and the appropriateness and practicality of such issues being addressed in a satisfactory manner and would the Minister make a statement on the subject."

This is the second time that a member of the Northern Assembly has expressed concern about the government's neglect of this group of survivors. Minister Arlene Foster wrote to Martin McAleese asking him to include Bethany Home in in his investigation of Magdalen laundries. The government refused to allow this - see letters.

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Government considers Bethany home probe

Justice Minister Alan Shatter is considering demands for an investigation of the former Protestant-run Bethany Home

By Joe Little, RTE Religious and Social Affairs Correspondent

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has said he is considering very carefully demands for an investigation of the former Protestant-run Bethany Home.

Former residents have accused the government of discriminating against them on religious grounds by excluding them from the remit of its investigation of the Catholic-run Magdalene Laundries.

Mr Shatter gave his assurance to William Irwin, a Co Armagh-based member of the Northern Assembly.

But he told him there are no plans at present to expand the brief of the Government-appointed McAleese Committee to include the Bethany mother and baby home where, despite state inspections, a number of unreported deaths occurred in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s.

The McAleese Committee is investigating the State's involvement in the Catholic-run Magdalene Laundries.

Mr Irwin had written to Mr Shatter echoing calls by a Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive, Arlene Foster, for the former Dublin-based Home to be included in the Committee's remit.

The two dozen or so former residents are confident such a move would lead to the State compensating them for neglect.
Mr Shatter assured Mr Irwin that he is carefully considering the appropriateness and practicality of addressing the issues surrounding the home in a satisfactory manner.

The Minister has already rejected suggestions that the state's current position is motivated by religious discrimination."

Further Information
Derek Linster, Chairperson, Bethany Survivors Group
42 Southey Road Rugby CV22 6HF Warwickshire England
Telephone 0044 1 788 817311
derek.linster@talktalk.net

See RUAIRI QUINN wrong to deny redress to Bethany Home survivors - here is the evidence
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/100060
(further Indymedia links to this story on this page - RTE story, link below, also has more links to story)

Arlene Foster letter to Martin McAleese

Martin McAleese letter to Arlene Foster