NORTHERN IRELAND
Irish Times
Dan Keenan
A social worker closely involved with Termonbacca children’s home run by the Sisters of Nazareth in Derry has said some nuns were “amazing in the ability to care and love”.
The witness, who cannot be named, spoke of his particular high regard for one named senior nun in the 1970s. He said he had “ a lot of time” for this particular nun who has also been praised by other social work professionals in their evidence to the inquiry which is investigating alleged abuses at care homes after 1922.
This nun was particularly keen to have professional, trained social workers included in the care plan for the home, the witness told the inquiry. She had great compassion and ability to recognise need when she saw it and to respond, he said.
Questioned by the inquiry’s senior counsel Christine Smith QC, the witness said this nun “wasn’t afraid to rock the boat” in providing for the children in her care.
She had a sense of direction and probably wanted to be a social worker herself, he told the inquiry.
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