Tag Archives: Brian O’Connell

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Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald at a press conference in Government Buildings yesterday, launching reform of student immigration and education

That should do it.

You may recall yesterday’s post concerning RTÉ reporter Brian O’Connell’s research on how some female asylum seekers – some aged 18 – are engaging in prostitution to supplement the weekly €19.10 they receive from the State.

Yesterday afternoon, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald was speaking at a press conference to launch new regulations for English language schools, when she was asked about Mr O’Connell’s report.

She told reporters she will be asking the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) – which oversees the Direct Provision system – for a report on the matter, adding:

“We have no reports in relation to that, to date, but I will certainly be asking for a report and I would ask that anyone with information to make it available to the Gardaí.”

However, on this morning’s Today with Sean O’Rourke show, Mr O’Connell returned to the subject and said in 2007 and 2008, Ruhama did send a report to the Department of Justice – highlighting the issue of vulnerable women living in Direct Provision centres or hostels.

Mr O’Connell said the report states:

“On a practical level, we believe these hostels are not appropriate for this vulnerable target group. We have been advised by the women we work with, by managers of these hostels and by other service providers, throughout the country, that the hostels have become targets for pimps and other opportunists who seek to exploit the women through prostitution, recognising their poverty and vulnerability.”

Also in response to Mr O’Connell’s report yesterday, Minister Fitzgerald said:

“I would be concerned as well about any stereotyping that might take place in relation to those women in any media reports that are being made in relation to the issue because that’s obviously something of huge concern. We are talking about a vulnerable group of women and I certainly don’t want to see them further stigmatised.”

However, this morning, Mr O’Connell told the Today with Seán O’Rourke show:

“A lot of people heard anecdotally this was happening. This was the first time women have come forward and, if you like, taken ownership of their own story, Seán. The women wanted their stories to be told, they wanted to realities of their situation to be out there and they wanted to give a voice to what was happening to them on a daily basis.”

Listen back to this morning’s show in full here

Previously: ‘We Do It Out Of Desperation’

Why All The Secrecy?

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A direct provision accommodation centre for asylum seekers in Lissywollen, Athlone, Co. Westmeath

Brian O’Connell spoke to Keelin Shanley on RTÉ’s Today With Sean O’Rourke this morning to discuss the direct provision system for asylum seekers.

During his discussion with Ms Shanley, Mr O’Connell referred to disturbing case file he saw involving a mother with mental health issues, in the direct provision system.

Mr O’Connell did not disclose her name or where she lives.

Brian O’Connell: “Whether or not this person’s underlying mental health issues were created or caused by direct provision, obviously is very hard to say. But what is clear from the case files that I’ve seen is that they’re certainly not being helped by the delay in their case being processed, they’re in the system for a number of years. Now this person has one child and the parent’s mental health, she suffered so much that she thought her child was a witch and she poured boiling water over them. So, a really disturbing incident. Since she was refused asylum, initially, there has been a significant deterioration in her condition and also we know the UN [Human Rights] committee said that prolonged duration in direct provision centres in Ireland is not conducive to family life. Now this parent is presently being given access to a range of supports and they’re stable. And a team is helping them deal with their issues and also to support them as a parent. But the issue here, Keelin, is that they’re still under threat of deportation, back to a country, their home country which doesn’t even recognise her underlying mental illness. They wouldn’t have any supports there. So the big issue is not only for her but also her child. Without these supports, that they’re getting currently, the child would be in danger. So I suppose the humanitarian aspect of this case is being overlooked and unless an appeal is successful, they could be deported. And this is a real mental health issue being exasperated by the length of time they’re in the direct provision system, as the medical notes that I’ve seen would show.”

Listen back here

Meanwhile

priest

“I am a Roman Catholic diocesan priest, have been so for over 30 years, and I am gay. I came out to myself six years ago, I have since come out to my family and a small number of close friends. I am delighted that Mary McAleese has spoken out about the issue of being gay. I agree with all she has said. I feel she has spoken out for me and many priests like me, who are gay. She is a voice for us, as we are not free to speak out. I live in constant fear of being found out or being outed. I don’t believe that I’m ‘intrinsically disordered’ as my church would have me believe.
That term is insensitive, offensive and deeply hurtful to me, as I’m sure it is to others like me. The people in my parish tell me that I am a gentle, compassionate and sensitive priest. If Jesus was to sit down with a group of gay people, I am absolutely certain that their first experience would be a welcome and a reassurance that they are loved unconditionally by him. Why is it then that their first experience of my church is of condemnation, rejection and judgement. The content of its teaching and homosexuality and the way it communicates it seems very cold – clinically and pastorally insensitive. It’s approach is too simplistic and does not take into account the complexities and uniqueness of each person’s life. It seems that instead of helping  to ease and lift the many sufferings of gay people, we are adding to them. I have no doubt Jesus would not approve.”

You could always LEAVE?

Further to the comments made by former President Mary McAleese – that the Catholic church is in denial about homosexuality – RTÉ reporter Brian O’Connell spoke to and was in correspondence with a number of Catholic and Church of England gay priests.

Their words were broadcast on RTÉ’s Today With Seán O’Rourke this morning and included the testimony (above)  and another man who told how his order organises retreats for gay priests.

Mr O’Connell said:

“On these retreats, they stand around the altar in a group and they share their stories and their experiences and, for them, it allows them to be true to themselves and he said when they’re standing in front of a congregation, a couple of days later during Sunday mass, they feel that they’re being somewhat true to themselves. He also had the experience that his orientation isn’t a problem, as long as he remains celibate, that’s within his order. He has fallen in love at times over the years and he left the church for a period, but was always drawn back. He told me actually about a recent case where a gay man in his parish came to see him and was telling him about the struggles he had around his sexuality. And this priest actually decided to open up to his parishioner and he told him that, well, he too was gay. And, he said, this made things so much easier for his parishioner and gave him a comfort and he was able to talk more openly with him.

And, right at the end of our chat, Seán, I asked him did he feel conflicted about being part of a church that has such strong views on homosexuality. And his answer, which I wrote down, I thought was quite elegant. He said to me ‘we’re told in the gospel that the truth will set you free. The official church has not asked to know our truth. One problem with the church today is that it keeps on answering questions people are not asking. As a gay priest I am being told things about myself, by people who are either ignorant or in denial and don’t do anything to find out what it is like for me. That, to my mind, is what is really sinful’. I thought that was a good way of summing it up.”

Listen back here

Previously: How Does She Know?