“You Just Feel Disgusted And Saddened”

at

11/12/2013. CRC at PAC. Former CEO Paul Kiely foll90327021

[Top: Former CEO of Central Remedial Clinic, Paul Kiely and former director Jim Nugent and, above the charity’s headquarters in Clonskeagh, Dublin]

A mother whose son is dependent on the services of the Central Remedial Clinic went on Morning Ireland earlier.

Maria Nolan – who is mother to 17-month-old  Oisín – spoke to Gavin Jennings and made an appeal to the public to continue to support the charity.

Maria Nolan: “Oisín really needs the CRC, he uses it every week, he goes approximately four times a week. He needs it for physiotherapy, occupational therapy, eat, drinking and swallowing clinic. And I also go the parent-toddler group myself, which is so vital for me. As, with Oisín’s condition, I felt somewhat of an outsider within my own community. So the CRC, for me, is a lifeline and a second home for me and Oisín”

Gavin Jennings: “When Oisín was discharged from hospital last August, last September…”

Maria: “Yeah, yes, the end of August he was discharged from Temple Street.”

Jennings: “And he was quite sick? You used the Central Remedial Clinic pretty soon after that. Tell me about your experience with them.”

Nolan: “My experience has been amazing. Oisín was discharged the end of the August and, literally, while, in his dischargment process, I received my letters from the CRC, welcoming me into their family more or less and all his appointments were set up immediately – his physiotherapy, occupational, everything was arranged. I didn’t have to ring, I didn’t have to follow up, I didn’t have to do anything. His appointments were laid out immediately. And we literally started the week after he was discharged.”

Jennings: “Have you experienced any cuts? Like the caller we heard to Liveline and other callers yesterday?”

Maria: “Personally, no, I haven’t myself, thank god, I haven’t. His physiotherapy has started back and he will be doing his eating, drinking, swallowing clinic very shortly. So, personally, no, thank god, I haven’t.”

Jennings: “What’s your reaction to the news that the bosses at the clinic were paying themselves such huge salaries from money donated to help people like your son?”

Maria: “You just, you feel disgusted and saddened but not just for yourself and for your child. You feel for the staff of the CRC – they’re so amazing, they all work so hard. You go in everyday and there’s always a smile on their faces. They’re amazing, amazing people who are so talented and gifted to work with children like Oisín and adults like Oisín and you can just feel that they’re so ashamed themselves and hoping that they’re not implicated, or feeling that we’re looking at them and judging them. For such…CRC, if you ever go in the front door of the CRC, the receptionist is just smiling at you, everyone is so nice, it’s just a second home from home.”

Maria: “…And for him [Paul Kiely] to do that…”

Jennings: “Maria there will be people listening this morning, many of whom who will have given money to the Central Remedial Clinic over the years, and many who want to, to continue to help children like your son. But they’re torn now, thinking that ‘well,last year for example, half that money didn’t got to services, it went to pay off a former boss’. What would you say to people who are passing a bucket or donation and are thinking ‘well, I want to help but I don’t want my money to go to pay salaries or pensions like that’.

Maria: “I understand completely. Before I had Oisín I knew of the CRC, but I didn’t know of really what it did. I just beg people, I know money is scarce and people don’t have money to give sometimes to charities but please don’t pass the bucket on the street. Do give. Just think of my son. Children like Oisín and adults like Oisín will be like this for the rest of their lives. They’ll always need the CRC and please don’t pass it, I beg of you, don’t pass it. You never know when you might need it yourself. I didn’t think that when I had my baby that I would need the CRC and I highly, highly need it and I will always need it, so please don’t pass it.”

Listen here

Previously: They Just Keep On Giving

All De Berties Men

(Sam Boal/Photocall ireland)

Sponsored Link
Sponsored Link
Broadsheet.ie