BishopAccountability.org
	Child Abuse in Ireland: "I Knew I Was Next to Be Flogged" Guardian May 21, 2009 http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/may/20/irish-catholic-abuse-survivor John Kellywas sentenced to two years in the Daingean Industrial School in ­Offaly for stealing a chocolate bar. He was 13 when he went to work on the school's farm for no pay. "There was a lad I knew who was a bit giddy. He blabbered that he wanted to escape from Daingean and go back and see his family in Dublin. The Oblate Brothers (the Catholic order that ran the school) overheard him talking about escape. When he was taken out to be flogged he started to weep. It was common to beat boys with huge thick leather straps studded with ten pence coins. After about two massive slaps the lad starting crying out "Kelly, Kelly, Kelly. Kelly was going to escape." I knew I was next. They dragged me downstairs and I was flogged as well. After the fourth time I passed out but those screams have remained with me all my life."
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.