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In the 1960’s a young Traveller woman was raped by 5 men, dragged behind a car while out in the country. Ended up brain damaged. 10years later she was groomed, drugged by a “high standing member of settled society” and fell pregnant.The priests and nuns assured parents she would
Be better in a #MotherandBaby home. She was used to being spoiled by her family due to her brain damage. She was child like and played with dolls. She went into the home with long blonde hair, full of life and innocent joy. Her family had to fight to get her out. She came out
Broken, rocking back and forth and hugging her doll. She didn’t speak of her experience but she would wash, scrub sheets, bedding while chanting prayers and begging “don’t beat me”
She loved children and slowly with the love of her family she began to heal. She would get dolls from Travellers far and wide for every occasion. She loved coloured jewellery even though she had so much gold. She played with the children and we often had to give her our toys
The children never knew that once she had her own horse and cart, her own money, a beautiful smart girl who was about to marry. We thought of her like one of us. Her parents looked for answers as to what had gone on in the home.The guilt of sending their daughter there never left
This woman died asking for her baby, clutching a doll. The extent of her abuse was never known. Her daughter came looking for her. Her daughter is the mirror image of her biological cousins. When she was a child, her teacher used to say “you are a twin for ....”
This family got some answers but only through local intelligence. I am sick to my stomach at everyone who voted to seal the records. No excuses. You do not have the right to inflict more pain on those who suffered so much and continue to do so. #UnsealTheArchive
