Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support the motion and commend the work of the proposers. I also commend the work of Senator Lynn Ruane who has been working on this issue for a long time.I most particularly commend Mr. Mick Finnegan who is present and who I got to know through a mutual friend, Mr. Aubrey McCarthy. Mr. Finnegan's courage in the face of all this for many years has to be commended. To be a survivor of abuse, when in many ways you are drawn to the depths of your soul, and be able to keep fighting, keep challenging the system and keep telling your story has to take a huge toll. I see that with Mr. Finnegan because I read his tweets regularly and can see the toll all this has taken on him. He has done an incredible service to so many who have suffered and been abused. He deserves the gratitude not just of the survivors but all of society for what he has done.

I also know Mr. Mark Pender who lives in Newbridge now and is a friend. When he lived in Tallaght, before he moved to Newbridge, he was also an abuse victim. In an awful way, when his brother James was ten, he was knocked down and suffered a brain-acquired injury. As Mark was so impressed with the care James got, he wanted to be part of a structure that gave that care. That was what brought him to St. John Ambulance. His father had been a volunteer with that organisation previously. Sadly, Mark's father became ill and, again, as Mark was so impressed with the level of care, he was very clear in his conviction of wanting to help and support people. When he initially joined, it gave a great structure to his life. He was thrilled to be involved in every aspect but then, very slowly, he was groomed and abused. He went to three different officers, who listened but did nothing and more or less ignored him. He began to think the type of behaviour he was subjected to was normal and, at the same time, his self-esteem and self-worth were in his boots. He would say that continues to be the case. I understand that and am just using his words on that.

There were obviously many good people in St. John Ambulance. We cannot lose sight of all the excellent people who were volunteers but there was abuse by a few - their names appear to be widely known and I know names that Mark has given to me - and the fact nobody stepped up to support these vulnerable boys is an absolutely shocking indictment of the organisation and society. Year after year, we have to discuss all these situations of horrific child abuse. We see children's futures being taken away from them. I know that Mr. Finnegan would say that. One of his comments is, "They shut you down and shut you up." When you are dealing with that internal conflict, it takes away your future as well as your present. It affects relationships with family and friends as well as personal, intimate relationships. The damage is incredible.

I acknowledge that the Minister put pressure on St. John Ambulance to publish the report. It is a very good thing that it has done so. The work that Dr. Geoffrey Shannon has done is top class. The recommendations he has put in place are key, in some small way, to the healing process that Mr. Finnegan, Mark and others need to have. The review's statement that, in the very first place, St. John Ambulance should offer an apology in comprehensive terms is obviously the very least that can happen. The therapeutic support and counselling services that are recommended have to be provided. The review recommended the creation of robust, internal accountability frameworks that are transparent. If that does not happen, we are doing nothing with our time here. That is something that should be part of every single organisation that works with young people. I work with the Order of Malta and Civil Defence at times, and other organisations in south Kildare, on different events and festivals, etc. To see the enthusiasm all these volunteers bring, I would hate to think they might be subjected to this type of thing. I fully support all the recommendations. We need to see action very soon.