AUSTRALIA
The Gympie Times
November 9, 2017
By Arthur Gorrie
Joe Kiernan was born into a real-life Stephen King horror story in 1960.
Stolen from his unmarried mother at birth, “because that’s what they did then,” he was sent to the infamous St Joseph’s orphanage at Neerkol, near Rockhampton – an institution so evil its grounds include a memorial to the abused children who died there.
A Gympie survivor of unimaginable abuse, Mr Kiernan was able to smile at times yesterday as he told of his feelings, now the prosecutions have begun and the truth has come out at a Royal Commission.
“Some former residents don’t want the buildings destroyed, but it’s owned by other people now and they have a right to do what they want,” Mr Kiernan said yesterday.
And he said the demolition crews might just find some gruesome reminders of the Neerkol horror story.
“So be it,” Mr Kiernan said yesterday.
“They might find some bodies or bones.
“If they do and there are some without death certificates, it’s back in the hands of the police.”
Mr Kiernan is one of thousands of people who survived the care of church and state and who have now given evidence to the Child Abuse Royal Commission.
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