Sisters of Charity admit slapping children was wrong
The head of the Sisters of Charity has accepted that it was wrong to physically punish children for bed-wetting at a former industrial school in Kilkenny.
Sr Una O'Neill told the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse today that it was normal for children at St Patrick's industrial school to be slapped as punishment for bed-wetting.
She said slapping with the hand or with a cane or ruler was the form of punishment used to discipline the children and admitted that it was sometimes harsh or humiliating for the child.
She also said that order and discipline were a priority for staff rather than dealing with the emotional growth of the children.
Several past residents have told of severe beatings they received at the industrial school, but Sr O'Neill said today that none of the nuns remember seeing any child being badly hit.
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