IRELAND
Herald
12 JUNE 2014
In the Dail this week, as an inquiry into mother and baby homes was announced, our Taoiseach Enda Kenny made another impassioned speech condemning the wrongs of Irish history.
After an emotional apology to the Magdalene women (many of whom have yet to receive compensation, some of whom have died waiting) and a heartfelt address about Church wrongdoing, you’d think he wouldn’t still have that fire in him.
But, it seems, we all have that fire in us when it comes to historical injustices and righting past wrongs.
Or, at least, talking about righting past wrongs.
I don’t doubt that he was sincere in doing so, but history shows that political and media outrage at the dehumanisation of a marginalised group rarely leads anywhere. Just look at direct provision.
As one Bessborough baby told me yesterday, people knew. And every so often, we all wring our hands and we spend days or weeks raking up internal grief, then forget about it again with vague promises that something will be done.
In her words, what we need now is “a cut off, and justice”.
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