Hunger striker 'ready to die' outside Dáil
A 57-year-old man on a hunger strike outside the Dáil warned today he will die on the street unless the Government listens to his protest.
Tom Sweeney is one of thousands who suffered years of sexual abuse at the hands of the religious orders which ran Ireland’s industrial schools in the 1960s.
He says he is prepared to die a slow and painful death on the Government’s doorstep in an attempt to force it to listen to his plight.
Mr Sweeney is demanding compensation to which he claims he is entitled.
He has not eaten for 21 days.
The Dublin-based painter and decorator was physically and sexually abused for five years.
He and 800 others have complained about the way they have been treated by the Residential Institutions Redress Board, set up to investigate individual cases and provide financial compensation for survivors.
The RIRB is currently investigating more than 4,000 allegations. Since its launch in June last year it has attracted endless controversy.
A recent review of the inquiry warned it was likely to take more than 11 years and cost more than over €1bn.
Mr Sweeney decided against high court proceedings when he was offered €113,000 by the board.
But by then opting for a full hearing in order for his story to be heard, his compensation was cut back to €67,000.
Lying on a camp bed in the wet and windy Dublin street, Mr Sweeney said he was prepared to die if it meant the Government was forced to change the system.
Over a week ago an ambulance was called and doctors told him that within five days his organs would begin seizing up. He knows his days are numbered.
“I wanted to speak about my past which has been haunting me,” he said. “I had something to say and I am entitled to say it to the Redress Board without my compensation being halved.
“It’s up to the ministers now. I am prepared to die. I came here to die. All we want is recognition.”
Mr Sweeney’s son Mark joined him on the hunger strike as soon as he heard of the protest.
After 19 days without food the 32-year-old admits he is feeling increasingly tired. He too has vowed to die on the street.
“I’m sick of the way the Government has treated my father,” he said. “He was abused as a child and he’s being abused now.”
Mark, one of Mr Sweeney’s six children, said he was brought up in a tough environment. His father showed him no emotion. He used to beat him and never once gave him a hug.
“It was because he built a shield around him, a wall to block people out after being abused for so long,” he said.
“He just wants justice. He wants what he is entitled to and he just wants to tell people what happened. Cutting back his compensation is just a slap on the wrist for speaking out.
“They have to listen. Someone has to do something.”
John Kelly, Survivors of Child Abuse (SOCA) spokesman, said of 1,200 child abuse victims who have so far appeared before the RIRB, 800 had voiced grievances with the process.
He said the board was forcing solicitors to make settlements rather than hold full hearings.
“Victims’ issues have to be addressed,” he said. “We don’t want to replace Tom with someone else desperate to be heard.
“They are being demeaned and disparaged.
“We were promised a system that would be compatible with the high court. It is not.
“It is a one-sided system weighed heavily in favour of the state.”
A number of politicians concerned with the issue met with Education Minister Noel Dempsey today to discuss Mr Sweeney’s position.
Mr Dempsey would not comment on the meeting but Labour party leader Pat Rabbitte said the only solution was to offer Mr Sweeney an out of court settlement and that option was being considered.
