Christine Buckley,R.I.P. A great and inspirational woman has died

R.I.P.

sillyoulfool wrote: »

Christine Buckley, a survivor or institutional abuse, and whose story was told in the 1996 RTE documentary Dear Daughter has died.
In telling her story Christine opened the debate into the horrors that had been perpetrated against generations of Ireland most vulnerable kids by those charged with caring for them.
She continued up to her death to campaign against abuse and for the rights of survivors.
R.I.P. Christine.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/institutional-abuse-campaigner-christine-buckley-dies-1.1720348

Wow, this gave me a jolt. I was haunted by her tale. Utter horror. As well as the abuse, there was indifference from her mother when she finally got in contact with her. Cancer then on top of it all. Some people just don't get a break. "Karma" my hole. :rolleyes:
I remember so well hearing her on the radio the morning after Dear Daughter was aired. It was February 1996 (same day my nana died) and up to then I had absolutely no idea that abuse was so widespread in religious order-run institutions.
It'd actually surprise younger people how genuinely little was known.

Gone too soon anyway. R.I.P.

Well played, brave woman. RIP.

Coincidentally, I read this news just after posting my documents to the archbishop of Dublin to officially defect from the RC church (something I meant to do and should've done years ago) so today I do it in her honour. RIP Christine.

Birroc wrote: »

I have an elderly relative who "blames" her for the decline of the church, saying she started the criticism and 'lies'.

I have a relative who blames Annie Murphy for the same thing. Apparently "she ruined that poor mans life (Eamonn Casey) when she led him astray" :rolleyes:

RIP Christine.

sillyoulfool wrote: »

Christine Buckley, a survivor or institutional abuse, and whose story was told in the 1996 RTE documentary Dear Daughter has died.
In telling her story Christine opened the debate into the horrors that had been perpetrated against generations of Ireland most vulnerable kids by those charged with caring for them.
She continued up to her death to campaign against abuse and for the rights of survivors.
R.I.P. Christine.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/institutional-abuse-campaigner-christine-buckley-dies-1.1720348

My Grandmother was in the same orphanage as this lady.


The abuse was daily and was basically like a horror film.

It was awful.

This woman started the ball rolling. She helped so many.

When my nana told me the stories of what was done to her it was Dickensian.

Of course not all nuns were evil but a substantial number were criminal.

They were the sisters of mercy my nana called them the 'sisters of cruelty'.

My nana had the last laugh though. She left at 18 and for a while ended up in another brutal situation of abuse. But she got out!

And in her 20's she met my grandad and had kids and was possibly the sweetest fun loving lady ever!

So they lost and she won.

She taught me many a life lesson ...mostly about loving unconditionally.

But I wish she had felt higher self esteem and knew how wonderful she was.

I loved her.

My Dad mentioned this today.

I love you Nana. YOU WON YOU OVERCAME THEM!

beks101 wrote: »

An exceptional woman.
I had the pleasure of talking to her over the phone on a number of occasions and her straight-talking nature and absolute passion for justice always struck me.
A woman who put the needs of others indefinitely ahead of her own.
I'm so sad to hear this news.
Rest well Christine, job well done.

Well said. The thing that makes her death less sad is that she managed, despite the damage done to her, to have her own family -who adored her- and she was surrounded by friends and supporters throughout her campaigns. Job well done indeed.

sillyoulfool wrote: »

Fergus Finlay, on Newstalk this evening, suggested that such was the service that Christine did for the state she should be given a full state funeral.
First time I have ever agreed with Fergus, though I doubt she will receive one.

Yes she should. History will show how influential she was to bringing our country out of the dark ages.

ArnoldJRimmer wrote: »

RIP, she was an extremely brave woman. As someone already alluded to, Ireland was a very different place when she first spoke out. People just didn't want to believe how widespread and how evil the abuse was, but despite this, she refused to be silenced.

I was only 17 and not particularly religious. In my case, it wasn't a case of "didn't want to believe", it was more "couldn't believe". It was the stuff of reeling.
So, so difficult to get your head around: these people (nuns) whom I'd been led to believe by my lovely, gentle grandmother were instruments of god's love (plenty of whom were of course good people)... how was it actually possible that any of their number could beat, torture, starve, psychologically torment, enslave, and sexually assault children?
It's hard to get your head around anyone doing this, let alone people whom you fully believe are nothing but good.

Plenty of laypeople were abusers too, it should be acknowledged.

Knight who says Meh wrote: »

Maybe a simplistic analogy from a simplistic poster but in my mind, a Priest/ Nun abusing and battering kids is a lot like a a fire man whos an arsonist or a cop whos a drug dealer or in ISPCA worker who drowns puppies as a hobby.
Yes lay people do all of the above but its worse when its a person who is meant to be the polar opposite perpetrating the same crimes.

+1

And what always annoys me are the people that say "it was a few bad apples" etc. The priests/nuns that stood idly by are as much to blame as the cruel abusers. Where was the internal agitation for reform during all those decades of shame? No evidence of it.

I have to say I chuckled at this one: "an ISPCA worker who drowns puppies as a hobby". :eek::)