Hell home' children's home ran by 'psychotic' nuns, inquiry told

Nuns who ran a hell hole children's home in Northern Ireland were nearly psychotic, a former resident said. The Sisters of Nazareth property in Londonderry was like Auschwitz, youngsters' screams of despair still haunting survivors, the UK's largest ever inquiry into institutional child abuse was told.
Imates formed chain gangs to polish floors until they sparkled - with arms linked and rags under both feet - and were beaten with bamboo canes and straps. One witness reported sexual abuse by older boys to a nun.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/hell-home-childrens-home-ran-by-psychotic-nuns-inquiry-told-29957977.html

How I helped Philomena track down her son sold by cruel nuns:

I first heard of Philomena Lee at a New Year’s party in 2004, when her daughter Jane approached me to ask for help.

She told me her mother had just revealed a shocking secret – that she, Jane, had a long-lost brother.  Could I, a former journalist, find out more?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2495391/How-I-helped-Philomena-track-son-sold-cruel-nuns-Its-film-toddler-torn-mother-reducing-grown-men-tears--REAL-story-haunt-forever.html 

Children were sexually abused, beaten, humiliated and lived in fear

The nuns who ran Termonbacca Boys’ Home in Derry failed to act over serious and repeated episodes of sexual abuse and violence perpetrated against young children. That was one of a number of key conclusions reached by the Historical Abuse Inquiry .
A harrowing catalogue of abuse was detailed by the Inquiry, including improper sexual and physical behaviour and emotional abuse perpetrated by older boys, individual sisters, several priests and visitors .

http://www.derryjournal.com/news/crime/children-were-sexually-abused-beaten-humiliated-and-lived-in-fear-1-7787619

What the North’s child abuse inquiry reveals

Another report of another child abuse inquiry was published last week. This time, the inquiry, the Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) Inquiry, chaired by retired judge Sir Anthony Hart, dealt with abuse in institutions in Northern Ireland.
These institutions were run by the Catholic Church, by the state, and by other voluntary bodies such as Barnardo’s and Protestant organisations. The inquiry covered the period 1922 (when partition occurred) until 1995.

http://www.irishcatholic.ie/article/what-north%E2%80%99s-child-abuse-inquiry-reveals

Nun Calls Out Monsignor Lynn

A nun who was sexually abused as a minor by a predator priest called out Monsignor William J. Lynn Thursday from her perch on the witness stand.

It was a dramatic confrontation as the Archdiocese of Philadelphia sex abuse trial wrapped up its seventh week of testimony. Lynn is on trial for allegedly conspiring to endanger the welfare of children by allowing abusive priests to continue in ministry.

http://www.bigtrial.net/2012/05/nun-calls-out-monsignor-lynn.html

High Court Magdalenes case adjourned after Ombudsman probe revealed

A High Court case has revealed that the Department of Justice is under investigation by the Ombudsman for its administration of the redress scheme for survivors of the Magdalene Laundries.
The Justice for Magdalenes group says the case has been adjourned while representatives from the Department of Justice explain why the Ombudsman's investigation was not initially disclosed.

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/high-court-magdalenes-case-adjourned-after-ombudsman-probe-revealed-774245.html

Sisters of Nazareth accused of impeding historic sex abuse investigation

A religious order in Melbourne has been accused of impeding an investigation into historic sex abuse at a former children's home.

Barry Potocic, 54, has spent thirty years trying to identify the nun who he says used him as a sex toy at the age of eight, at Nazareth House in Camberwell. He suffers post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety, as well as serious dental problems — the result of grinding his teeth during regular nightmares.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-23/sisters-of-nazareth-accused-of-impeding-sex-abuse-investigation/7050832?pfmredir=sm 

Real life Philomena calls on Vatican to open files on forced adoptions

I 2nd this call into force adoptions of children... in all orphanages and homes... it has to go much further than the adoptions of babies... not only from our mothers point of view... what must take place this time round... it must take a real hard look into what happened with the babies... who were forced from their mother's arms...
it has to also take into consideration... because it did not only happen in Ireland... the stealing of babies... adopted out to the highest bidder worldwide... many of us babies... have tried a life time in pain and torment... in trying to find our mothers... most of us still do not know the real truth... as the nuns have fed us lies... from the first day... that we asked them about our mothers... we will go to our graves... never knowing the full truth... of our mothers fighting to keep us... but as like us still now... we are held back and told lie after lie... so as we will give up... never ever mistake a child's love... for their mothers... they have never meet... just to see her face for the first time... but this time knowing that she is your mother... to give her a hug and to hold her hand... is that not too much to ask for...  Ann

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Irish woman whose story of having her child taken away by Catholic Church inspired Steve Coogan's Bafta-nominated film speaks after meeting Pope.

A woman whose three-year-old son was taken from her by the Catholic Church more than 60 years ago has called on the Vatican to open up its files on the policy of forced adoptions.  Philomena Lee’s tragic story inspired the film Philomena, which stars Dame Judi Dench and Steve Coogan, who wrote the screenplay.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ireland/10621970/Real-life-Philomena-calls-on-Vatican-to-open-files-on-forced-adoptions.html 

Irish care home scandal inquiry into deaths of 'inferior sub-species' infants

Investigation announced into 4,000 deaths at Irish Mother and Baby homes where up to one in two new borns did not survive. 

The Irish government has bowed to pressure to set up an official inquiry into deaths and abuse at homes for unmarried mothers after it found 4,000 infants had been buried in unmarked graves at institutions where morality rates ran as high as 50 per cent. 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ireland/10890313/Irish-care-home-scandal-inquiry-into-deaths-of-inferior-sub-species-infants.html

Convent that 'forced' young mothers to give up their babies

Children given up for adoption as babies are trying to trace the mothers who say they were pressured by Catholic nuns into giving them away  Hundreds of teenage mothers who gave birth at a Roman Catholic convent in Britain had “no choice” but to give up their babies for adoption, it can be disclosed.

Despite desperately wanting to keep them, many of the women say they were forcefully encouraged to give up their babies by the convent’s nuns, who told them that as single women they would not make good mothers and did not deserve to have a child.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/10932969/Convent-that-forced-young-mothers-to-give-up-their-babies.html 

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Historical Abuse Inquiry: Termonbacca resident tells of abuse

A priest told a former resident of a children's home in Northern Ireland he was the product of an evil and satanic relationship, an inquiry has heard.

The witness lived at St Joseph's in Termonbacca, Londonderry, in the 1950s. He said he became a zombie, introverted and fearing the next beating.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-25948005 

More than 100 nuns have been accused of molesting children.

Over the last decade, more than 100 nuns have been accused of molesting children. Most victims
remain silent, but The Times tracked down two, and the mother of a third, willing to talk about their
journey of recovery.
Myra Hidalgo was 14 when her older sister Mona shot herself in the head. During her second year in college, her 52-year-old mother died of heart problems weeks after undergoing what was supposed to be a routine angioplasty. Little more than a year later, her father, heartbroken, shot himself in the heart.

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news5/2002_08_07_Rom_DevotionAnd.htm