Unveiling the Dark Legacy of Institutional Cruelty
Last night, RTE1 aired a harrowing documentary titled “STOLEN,” which delved into the dark and depraved world of slavery and cruelty that many women found themselves ensnared in. It was a hard watch, a cruel reminder of the control exerted by both the church and the state, and the complicity of a society that allowed such atrocities to occur.
The documentary shed light on the unimaginable pain and suffering these women endured. They were stripped of their autonomy, their dignity, and, most heartbreakingly, their own flesh and blood. The notion that mothers could be forced to give up their children for adoption, often without their consent, is a chilling testament to the power dynamics at play. Fathers, on the other hand, faced no accountability, further highlighting the gendered injustice of the era.
One of the most gut-wrenching aspects of the documentary was the plight of women who were raped and subsequently punished for their victimisation. The utter loneliness and devastation they must have felt is beyond comprehension. These women were not only violated but also ostracised and condemned by a society that should have protected them.
The documentary also revealed the horrifying reality of the Tuam babies being disposed of in tanks, treated as if they were nothing more than waste. These beautiful little lives, which meant everything to their mothers, were discarded with a callousness that is difficult to fathom. The scandal, a dark chapter in Ireland’s history, was brought to light thanks to the tireless work of local historian Catherine Corless. Her meticulous research uncovered the horrifying truth that 796 babies and young children were buried in unmarked mass graves at a former mother and baby home in Tuam, County Galway.
Corless’s revelations not only shocked the nation but also spurred further investigations into other mother and baby homes across Ireland. These subsequent inquiries revealed that the same appalling practices had occurred elsewhere, with countless young lives being callously disposed of and forgotten. The exposure of these atrocities ignited a national reckoning, demanding justice and proper burials for the innocent victims, the cover-ups that followed only added to the pain, as mothers and their children continue to fight for proper burials and recognition to this day.
The authorities’ role in perpetuating this trauma cannot be overstated. Even today, the few surviving mothers and the children who seek their birth mothers face bureaucratic obstacles and indifference. There is the ongoing resistance from some institutions and individuals who seek to minimise or deny the extent of the abuses. Continued advocacy and vigilance are necessary to ensure that the survivors receive the justice and support they deserve.
The refusal to end their suffering and bring about redress is a stain on our history that has yet to be fully addressed. The authorities and individuals who hide behind policies and procedures, deciding who is entitled to compensation, only exacerbate the pain. Those deemed ineligible for compensation are left feeling as though their stories and suffering do not matter.
This ongoing struggle and the control that continues to be exerted over these women and their children is sickening. The made up policies and procedures that determine who receives redress are just another form of control, another way to silence and dismiss their pain. The hurt and devastation this causes cannot be overstated. It is a continuation of the criminal system that once discarded them, now dressed up in the guise of bureaucracy.
“STOLEN” is a powerful indictment of a society that failed its most vulnerable members. We must acknowledge the pain and suffering these women and their children have endured and continue to endure. The civil servants who draft policies that perpetuate this continued suffering must be held accountable. Their actions, whether intentional or not, send a clear message: “Now go live your lives, we have found every way possible to make this go away, and you are still fighting us on it.”
For the women and children who have been through this awful, ugly, and criminal system, the message is clear, your stories and your hurt do matter. We are so very sorry you are hurting, and we must continue to fight alongside you to ensure that your suffering is acknowledged and addressed. The stain on our history will never go away. We must confront it head-on and provide the justice and redress that these women and their children so desperately deserve.
