Termonbacca resident praises care he received at the home

NORTHERN IRELAND
Irish Times

Dan Keenan

Wed, May 7, 2014

A former resident of Termonbacca boys’ home in Derry has given a positive account of his time there, praising the Sisters of Nazareth who ran the institution.

Giving evidence to the Historical Abuse Inquiry, he had stayed at the home as of the 1950s and said food, lodgings and the system of care were basic, but good.

He admitted some older boys did hit younger residents, and nuns did sometimes give those who misbehaved a “warm ear”. But he insisted this was how things were at that time.

Food was simple but acceptable, and a little Jeyes Fluid was added to baths. But in no way was it an awful experience, he said, adding it was as good as possible given the fact so few nuns were caring for more than 70 boys.

He denied boys who wet the bed were ritually humiliated by nuns or anyone else.

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