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Irish Times
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
‘I couldn't believe the bravery': Abuse survivors pay tribute to Michael O'Brien and his ‘powerful' RTÉ testimony on child sex abuse
Michael O'Brien had the 'bravery and strength' to 'open the floodgates' about the sexual abuse thousands of Irish children suffered in church-run industrial schools and residential institutions. Survivors of sexual and physical abuse have paid tribute to Mr O'Brien, the sex abuse survivor and former lord mayor of Clonmel, who died this week . Mr O'Brien's raw testimony on RTÉ's Questions and Answers programme in May 2009 outlining the abuse he suffered as a child sent shock waves around the country. Mr O'Brien confronted Noel Dempsey, then a government minister, following the publication of the Ryan Report into clerical abuse. The report came a decade after the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse was set up. READ MORE Thousands of complaints were heard by the commission from former residents of predominantly Catholic institutions. Mr O'Brien described the adversarial treatment he received at the commission and said he tried to take his own life after spending five days being questioned. 'I burst out crying when I saw it in 2009; I couldn't believe the bravery,' said Clodagh Malone, abuse survivor and chairwoman of the Coalition of Mother and Baby Home Survivors. 'At that time, you still weren't allowed to speak about the abuse. The church and State wanted to whitewash everything ... Michael catapulted us survivors to come forward. 'Everybody remembers that interview because it was so graphic, but that's what our abusers did. The floodgates were opened that night. People in Ireland prefer to say 'clerical abuse', but this was sexual abuse that takes away your body, your mind, your soul.' [ Michael O'Brien, former lord mayor of Clonmel who spoke on RTÉ programme of childhood abuse, has died ] Colm O'Gorman, founder of childhood sexual abuse support charity One in Four and former director of Amnesty International Ireland, said most Irish audiences had never heard a description of child sexual abuse 'in such a visceral way'. 'It was the fact that here was a Fianna Fáil man, a former mayor, cutting through all the bluster and excuses in a very uncompromising but incredibly courageous way,' he said. Watching the 2009 clip back, 'when we're now dealing with reports that religious orders are refusing to contribute to the cost of redress for survivors of mother and baby homes, you have to ask what has really changed,' Mr O'Gorman also said. Broadcaster John Bowman, who presented the RTÉ Questions and Answers programme, said Mr O'Brien's words had 'a greater impact than any other contribution from the audience in the history of the programme'. 'It was one of the most-watched moments in Irish TV history, it was the only time in 23 years that a panel applauded someone in the audience,' he said. Abuse survivor Maurice O'Connell said he 'curled up in a ball and broke down' after watching the programme. 'He expressed the anger and hurt so well. But even though it was powerful, nothing has changed,' he said. Mr O'Connell took part in a 2019 Government consultation that resulted in last year's Supports for Survivors of Residential Abuse Bill and provides a package of supports to abuse survivors, including an enhanced medical card and a once-off €3,000 support payment. Mr O'Connell said Mr O'Brien was 'disgusted' with the Bill's recommendations. 'Michael wanted what all survivors wanted: a HAA (Health Amendment Act) card, a pension scheme and housing.' Catherine Coffey O'Brien, who was born in a mother and baby home and whose mother and six uncles were 'incarcerated' in a psychiatric hospital, said Mr O'Brien took the 'first step in shedding light' on the abuse boys experienced in industrial schools. 'At the time he spoke it would have been unheard of for a man to speak about sexual abuse, it showed bravery and strength. The sad thing is, this narrative of history has been sanitised over the years,' she said. 'How many of us have to speak out before its actually acknowledged that we lived through this and, in some cases, like my own family, generations of family lived this. A part of this archive has died with Michael.' Mr O'Brien's intervention was a 'poignant moment in Irish history' that brought 'solace to survivors,' said John Kelly, founder of campaign group Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse (Soca). 'He stopped the Government in its tracks when it was ignoring us,' he said. Mr Kelly recalled how Mr O'Brien contacted him after taking part in the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. 'He phoned me a few days later and told me how the religious organisations called him a liar. He said he then realised none of those responsible would face justice. He told me, 'I was encouraged to open up my wounds and yet I'm left with all these scars to fester'. 'He was right. All we got was an inquiry and some money. But that's what our abusers did to us: they abused us, gave us money and then told us to go away.' Sixteen years on from Mr O'Brien's contribution on RTÉ, Mr Kelly lamented that little had changed. 'If we look at the 'Grace' case from last week, can we guarantee children's safety and security?' he asked. 'There will be two great men going through the pearly gates this weekend. The Pope may not have done enough, but he admitted they made faults. He did more than the Government. 'Hopefully, he and Michael will go hand-in-hand through the pearly gates.' Mr O'Brien is predeceased by his wife Mary and survived by his family Geraldine, Peter, Martin and Catriona. His funeral will take place on Thursday at St Mary's Church in Irishtown, Co Tipperary.
The Irish Sun
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Moment brave Michael O'Brien, 92, opens up on school sex abuse as tributes pour for ‘unforgettable speaker' after death
THIS is the moment that brave abuse survivor Michael O'Brien opened on his horrific experiences at the hands of a Catholic-run school. The former Mayor of Clonmel in Co 2 Michael O'Brien has passed away Credit: 2 O'Brien spoke powerfully on Questions and Answers Credit: RTE O'Brien had been an outspoken critic of the physical and sexual abuse taking place in mostly Catholic boy's He addressed the issue on It came a decade after the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse had been set up by the then The report, which found that sexual abuse was rampant in boy's institutions, was filled with accounts from former residents whose experience was similar to O'Brien's. Read more in News Addressing then-government minister Noel Dempsey, O'Brien said the He stormed that he had to repeatedly describe how he was "raped of a Saturday, got a merciful beating after it, and then he came along the following morning and put Holy Communion in my mouth." He blasted: "You don't know what happened there, you haven't the foggiest, you're talking through your hat there." He added: "You got it wrong, admit it, and apologise for doing that, because you don't know what happened to me, you don't know the hurt I feel." Most read in The Irish Sun O'Brien then revealed to the hosts, guest, and onlookers that he had considered taking his own life after spending five days at the commission. Pope says church still shamed by repugnant Irish abuse He explained: "I attempted to commit suicide, there's the woman that stopped me from committing suicide on my way down from He revealed that the Commission "brought a man over from Rome, about 90 years of age" to test what he was saying. HARROWING STORY O'Brien said: "To tell me I wasn't beaten for an hour, non stop, by two of them. Two of them, from head to toe, without a shred of thought on my body." O'Brien then pleaded with the Minister to "give us some peace" and demanded the issue of clerical abuse stop being used as "a political football". O'Brien is predeceased by his wife, Mary, and leaves behind his family Geraldine, Peter, Martin and Catriona. His funeral will take place on Thursday morning at St Mary's Church in Irishtown, Co Tipperary. He has been hailed as an "unforgettable" and powerful speaker and advocate in tributes that have poured in since his passing, with many telling how they will remember his speech forever. TRIBUTES POUR One person said: "Michael's voice cut through silence and shame with honesty and dignity. "He not only spoke his own truth but empowered others to speak theirs. "That kind of bravery leaves a lasting impact far beyond what words can fully express. Sincere sympathies to his family and friends. "His legacy of truth, resilience, and compassion will continue to inspire all who witnessed it — including those of us who never met him, but were forever changed by his words." KIND WORDS Someone else mourned: "Michael you were a truly principled gentleman. "You gave your time and knowledge freely to others and you were a fearless champion for the truth. May you rest in peace." A third put in: "Sincere sympathy to the O'Brien family on the loss of a wonderful and courageous man. "Michael played such a significant part in the recognition of Ireland's flawed relationship with the church. "He was an unforgettable speaker who carried himself with conviction. "I have no doubt that he is a huge loss to his family and he is indeed a loss to Irish society. I hope he is at peace."
Irish Times
22-04-2025
- Irish Times
Michael O'Brien, former lord mayor of Clonmel and abuse survivor, has died
Michael O'Brien, a former lord mayor of Clonmel and sex abuse survivor has died. He appeared on RTÉ's Questions and Answers programme in May 2009 where he outlined in detail his experiences of being abused as a child in St Joseph's Industrial School in Co Tipperary. Mr O'Brien spoke out following the publication of the Ryan report into clerical abuse. The report came a decade after the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse was set up by the government. READ MORE Thousands of complaints were heard by the commission from former residents of predominantly Catholic institutions. The Commission found that such abuse was endemic in boys' institutions, and in some residential institutions. During the RTÉ programme, Mr O'Brien revealed how his own experiences with the commission went. He explained that he tried to take his own life after spending five days at the commission. The late mayor of Oliver Plunkett Terrace, Clonmel died today at his sister Geraldine's residence. He was predeceased by his wife Mary. His death notice on reads: 'Michael (former Mayor of Clonmel), sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his family Geraldine, Peter, Martin and Catriona, sister, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family and his many friends.' Mr O'Brien will be reposing at Fennessy's Funeral Home from Wednesday at 5pm until 7pm with removal on Thursday morning to St Mary's Church, Irishtown, Clonmel for 10am Requiem Mass at followed by interment in St Patrick's Cemetery. Another former lord mayor of Clonmel Darren Ryan described Mr O'Brien as giving 'so much to so many during his lifetime'.
Irish Examiner
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Abuse survivor and former mayor of Clonmel Michael O'Brien dies
The former mayor of Clonmel and clerical abuse survivor Michael O'Brien, whose harrowing story became one of the most compelling moments ever captured on Irish television, has died. Mr O'Brien died on Tuesday at his daughter Geraldine's home. Mr O'Brien became known nationally in 2009 following an appearance on RTÉ's 'Questions and Answers' in the wake of the publication of the Ryan report into clerical abuse. There, he described, in graphic detail, the abuse he faced as a child at a Catholic-run industrial school, shocking the country. He was particularly scathing of then transport minister Noel Dempsey about the way the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse had treated survivors of the industrial schools, pointing out that the allegedly non-adversarial process had involved him being accused of lying. He said: I got raped of a Saturday, got an unmerciful beating after it, and he then came along the following morning and put Holy Communion in my mouth. "You don't know what happened there.' During the speech, he also addressed panel member Leo Varadkar, saying: "Can I speak to you and ask your leader to stop making a political football out of this. You hurt us when you do that. You tear the shreds from inside our body. For God's sake, try and give us some peace, try and give us some peace, and not continue hurting us." Mr O'Brien's remains will repose at Fennessy's Funeral Home this Wednesday evening from 5pm to 7pm with removal on Thursday morning to St Mary's Church, Irishtown, at 10am.
