Public Hearings Phase III

Phase III public hearings of the Investigation Committee of the Commission are due to commence on Thursday 4th May, 2006 and continue until June 20th. The venue for the hearings is the Mezzanine Suite, Herbert Park Hotel, Embassy House, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. The hearings will commence at 10-30am each day and further details of the location can be obtained at www.herbertparkhotel.ie/location.
As previously indicated on the Commission's website, evidence will be submitted as follows:

Presentation Brothers
St Joseph’s Industrial School,
Greenmount
4 May 2006

Rosminian Institute of Charity
St Joseph’s Industrial School, Ferryhouse
St Patrick’s Industrial School, Upton
9, 10 and 11 May 2006

Sisters of Mercy
Our Lady of Succour Industrial School, Newtownforbes
St Vincent’s Industrial School, Goldenbridge
St Joseph’s Industrial School, Dundalk
St Joseph’s Industrial School, Clifden
St Michael’s Industrial School, Cappoquin
Mount St Joseph’s Industrial School, Passage West
15 - 19 May 2006

Christian Brothers
St Joseph’s Industrial School, Letterfrack
Artane Industrial School
St Joseph’s Industrial School, Tralee
Carriglea Park Industrial School
22 - 24 May 2006
29 and 30 May 2006

Sisters of Charity
St. Joseph’s Industrial School, Kilkenny
St. Patrick’s Industrial School, Kilkenny
31 May and 1 June 2006 and 2 June 2006

The Oblates of Mary Immaculate
St Conleth’s Reformatory School, Daingean ????

Experts
6 and 7 June 2006
Department of Education and Science
8 and 9 June 2006
Department of Justice / Department of Health
12 - 16 June 2006
ISPCC 19 June 2006
20 June 2006


Brenda McVeigh
Secretary to the Commission

Training To Be A Christian Brother (From The Christian Brothers Basic Training Manual)

Start with a cage containing five Christian Brothers novices. In the cage, hang a banana on a string and put stairs under it. Before long, one of the novices will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the Banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the novices with cold water. After a while, another novice makes an attempt with the same result - all the novices are sprayed with cold water. Continue until, when another novice tries to climb the stairs, the other novices try to prevent it.

Now, turn off the cold water.

Now, remove one novice from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new novice sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his horror, all of the other novices attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted. Next, remove another of the original five novices and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm. Again, replace a third original novice with a new one. The new one makes it to the stairs and is attacked as well.

Two of the four novices that beat him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs, or why they are participating in the beating of the newest novice.After replacing the fourth and fifth original novices, all the novices which have been sprayed with cold water have been replaced. Nevertheless, no novice ever again approaches the stairs.

Why not?

"Because that's the way it's always been in the Christian Brothers."

Days In The Life: 2003/01 - 2003/01

Days In The Life: 2003/01 - 2003/01

Going Home Through The Fields

Going Home Through The Fields
Originally uploaded by therawnerve.

This is my son Jake, he's only seven years old and very much into the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit.