QandA May 25th - response to question on Ryan Commission Report

A question is asked about the Ryan Commission report on child abuse within institutions run by the religious orders in Ireland. After the panel had spoken the questioner responded and his response...well see for yourself.
Just a note, but my apologies for the ragged nature of the end of the piece. Editing wasn't very good with the late hour. You can read a transcript here.
willknott.ie/20...

[@ladmafilms]

A fucking hero.

[@SedatedW0lf]

Why is he a hero? Surviving doesn't make you a hero. He's courageous for speaking out, and fighting his fight, and it's awful what he went through. but he isn't a hero lol.

[@thepretend]

Subjectivity.

[@Drew15000]

"Hero: a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities." He is a hero for suffering terribly and speaking out

[@KrazyNino420]

A fucked hero.

[@ismaeel5051]

@@KrazyNino420 really?

[@GodShine]

For any man to talk about this is hard, for a man of his generation even harder. Utmost respect for this man

[@craighicksartwork]

Sexual abuse of children should be classed as a crime against humanity. It stays with victims until the end of their lives, utterly destroying them.

[@prankgirl9112]

It should be mandatory life in prison.

[@slackabara6674]

My mother has tried to kill herself multiple times because of depression. I always thought she was born this way. As I found out last year when I was 21, she was actually raped as a child by a respected person in the church she went to. I still want to find that man and get some justice for what he did.

[@milkshooter75]

no, they should be strangled with their own entrails., this is the only proper justice....

[@varunhebli]

@@milkshooter75 before that cut off his appendages and paraded naked for a year. Also stoned wherever he goes. No food, no water. Just keep walking continuously. Every time he stops whip him. Then strangle him with his entrails after sacrificing him publicly to Set.

[@prankgirl9112]

@Jimmy Doran I agree, it's unspeakable. I would even be in favor of the death penalty for pedophiles.

[@ianmcdonald6413]

As a 22 year old Irish man, it's this man's courage and the courage he passed onto his children that may breath life back into a country born on destroying tyrants.

[@longmemory1620]

nobody attacked that man when he told the truth about FF but they attack mairia cahill when she tells the truth about SF ??????

[@Carhuclough]

He is a hero.

[@michdo23]

All power to you lad

[@Karmakazi369]

You are still Ireland after centuries next door to a conquering British Empire may your Irish Ire continue and grow in its defiance.

[@HGSTz]

This is the toughest man i've ever seen in my life

[@nellynelson965]

What I found disturbing most of all, was not the emotion from the victims' speech, but the lack of emotion and empathy from 3 of the politicians at the very end. Which is why fuck all has been or will be done to bring the church to task over its appalling treatment of children.

[@gerdownes3278]

Cold psychopaths, they were just waiting for him to shut up. They couldn't possibly care less. They should have left the stage in shame.

[@twelvecatsinatrenchcoat]

I don't think that's an unusual response when someone is ripping you to shreds. I don't think it makes them cold that they resorted to a blank stare. It's what most people would do. We'd need to hear their actual responses afterwards to know more about how they felt.

[@gerdownes3278]

@@twelvecatsinatrenchcoat I dunno, it sounded like an awful dismissive tone coming in there at the end. I get they were surprised and put on the spot all of a sudden but they didn't look like sympathetic adults at all, they looked like scolded children. .. sorry I just have nothing but contempt for these "people" ...

[@kriptoniteXD]

I think they did nothing wrong. I would have done the same, the man deserved to be heard without any interruption and they did exactly that.

[@Vortiporius_]

@@gerdownes3278 That's a massive assumption there. Some people aren't capable of feeling empathy, so they practice their whole lives to do so, if it is done through practice rather than naturally, then it is in the words used, not the tone it starts in.

[@johnnytrapantino78]

His wife is a Hero, for all as long as they've been together I'm sure.

[@Whissht]

Who’s here, thinking about this man, now that there’s a public inquiry happening across hundreds of schools Around the country.

[@Whissht]

It’s crazy to think, on public television, a grown man admits to being raped by organizations that are state funded/run. Not a single apology, sorry or nothing from the panel. Gobshites the lot of them!

[@james09995]

Complete respect for that dear man.. complete respect! Gut wrenching stuff. So terribly brave.

[@jennifer11231]

My heart aches for this man. He's carried these terrors with him and still shakes when he speaks of it. The world hears you and wishes you peace.

[@ricdavid7476]

does the world hear it ? the roman catholic church the richest most evil organisation in human history is still the richest most powerful organisation in human history with over 1 billion members

[@JakDerrida]

This man's bravery sent chills down my spine. How many of us would have the courage to say these things so publicly??

[@Garnie541]

This is a STRONG man. Thank you for standing up to yourself and SO many others. Please do not be silenced

[@ShredCo]

The way he avoids using foul language is really admirable.

[@jamesc.7990]

That was hard to watch.

[@robertpirsig5011]

Hard to watch?? It was pure captivating. Man completely and utterly sticks it to the government. Absolutely brilliant

[@sdeluen]

Im a 35 year old man and this brought me to tears. This is one of my greatest fears even now, and it breaks my heart to hear this old fella pouring his heart out. What was the outcome of this whole thing if anyone knows?

[@elektrovert]

The usual, nothing.

[@tellurye]

They released their conclusions and recommendations in their final report. They had no real authority to force it upon the church. In 2003, they agreed to the settlement which of course, was footed by the taxpayer and was tried to keep under wraps. SO how disgusting is it that they are accused of wanting one, yet not one dime was asked for, nor received by , any of the victims. The money went to, you guessed it, the government and individual churches to help "rebuild" and put those "plans into action" to cleanse the church. " _Im a 35 year old man and this brought me to tears_ " By the way, Im a 46 year old man and experienced child molestation, and let me tell ya, chief, I dont need to watch this video to be brought to tears. It happens daily. That coupled with the "eh, men cant be raped" "Men are tough, only girls cry" my favorite "You are a cuck" or "You liked it" usually dont help. I will say that everyone on this thread has been really kind, so thank you all for that. Take a look at Survivors of Sexual Abuse and Assault Reveal an Important Truth kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKGTZ6tjrtqgmZI You will be quite surprised, and even more so that there are ZERO organizations for men. Keep your kids and hold them tight. Be vigilant - do NOT let this happen to them. Not bashing religion, it happens EVERYWHERE (mine was a non-religious family member) No, time does not heal wounds.

[@aureliuszeta3037]

@@tellurye This video made me tear up. I can't imagine how much pain he was in having experienced something so horrific. You went through similar experiences as well. I can't believe there isn't any organization to support men who were sexually abused! Rape is an insidious crime, and unfortunately too many don't seem to take male victims seriously. We as a society shouldn't brush it off as a joke.

[@frankythehatchet3206]

Nothing, the government lied, which created a subgroup that stole our compansation from our fund and gave it to the government. Paid them self's to

[@uluomu]

@@tellurye - I feel very sorry for you and really hope you are doing a bit better now - yet I know the psychological pain will probably never go aways. I also sincerely hope that your environment doesn't brush off your horrible experiences.

[@dolliegirl100]

Crying listening, the torment in his voice, hope you find peace x

[@buzraelYT]

Nobody can watch this and not be moved by this testimony. I'm speechless.

[@eileengrant5366]

This is the most powerful speech I've ever seen in my life. My husband told me that even as a child in Clonmel, they knew that Ferryhouse was an evil place & things went on there that shouldn't. Disgraceful. This man is a hero.

[@Ianjcarroll]

look at the emotionless face of that politician Mr Dempsey. i have no words to describe such an individual or his likes.

[@ishmyl99]

+Ian Carroll How about soul-dead? Moral sellout? Morally unconscionable lack of feeling, lack of humility? Lack of empathy? Arrogance of institutional power? Willful complicity with evil? Your comment is dated from three years ago. But I find myself remembering this man on many an occasion. And so respond to your comment now. I remember the depth of his pain, the horrendous traumas he's more-than-evidently experienced (both as a child and subsequently by the Catholic Church's systematic denials and diminishments in his adulthood), the heinous injustice he and other victims have been up against. But I also remember his courage and his integrity. In the face of such heinous institutional (morally false) power. I respect, admire, and love this man deeply for that. For there are so few adults (people privileged to have NOT been abused as children) who have the spine to speak what he has, who can well afford to defend the truth but don't. Who prefer to sit back and say nothing, while the victims of abuse are pilloried and vilified before them. Considering the enormous external pressure upon this man to have stayed silent -- and the equally enormous internal pressure from his traumatized being, body, and psyche to speak out as loud and clear about the truth as he could -- his tonal restraint here is absolutely incredible. What, with lesser restraint, would in many cases be nearly suicidal explosion of sheer, outright rage. Anyone who's been in this gentleman's shoes -- as a target of severe, if not pathological, child abuse in whatever form -- knows what I'm talking about. And also knows what it's like for an adult survivor to confront or continually put up with the ongoing complicity of abuse-deniers and enablers in one's own family. For their is no more personal feeling of betrayal. When it comes from one's own family members. Repeatedly. Arrogantly. No sincere expression or credible gesture of acknowledgement of what happened. No humility or remorse. If not worse, ongoing, entrenched defense of the abuser. And where this occurs not only when one is but an innocent child or youth, who necessarily depends on adults around him/her for protection and help when it's most needed. But also when one is an adult survivor of childhood abuse, when one CAN and DOES speak for oneself the truth of one's experiences, the truth of what happened. Unfortunately, the emotionless face and stiff, unyielding body language of Mr. Dempsey can be found in all too many families in this world. But, boy, will they have a great deal to answer for. When their time comes. For what they don't care to even try to sincerely own up to. In this life. For the sake and sanity of their own kin. But which they instead CHOOSE to make the victims of child abuse pay for, over and over again, without batting an eye. For decades on end, their corrupted conscience undisturbed. Evil lives where it is most closely denied, folks. That said, may the gentleman in this footage -- wherever he now is and wherever he may yet be -- find the peace that eluded him. An elusive peace, thanks to a colluding society and its members, who either actively or 'passively' side with the perpetrators of child abuse and all the lies that go with it. In this man's body, in his mind, in his spirit, in his heart, may he find that painfully long overdue peace. Peace to free him of the unbearable weight of pain, torment, and suffering which he never should have had to bear. What no child should ever bear. But what others, for their horrid failure of conscience, may well should. I would wish for such peace upon any and all abuse survivors who demonstrate the courage to call out the lies, in honor of truth and justice. My profound respect for each of them. And to those who stand in the way of exposing the truth? Let it not go unsaid that they indeed make their own karma. In every moment. Of every day.

[@ricdavid7476]

i have but i would be banned by you tube

[@MenelikTheFirst]

Same thing happened to my uncle. Rut upon by men 60 years his senior. Then raffled and sent off to America. My family didn’t know we had a whole branch of our family across the Atlantic until after 50 years had passed. I don’t know where men such as these get their strength but god bless them.

[@alexkillsdie]

what a brave, brave man

[@mossymoose8920]

“I don’t know what you call it now” This kinda struck me bc the fact that it’s been going on for THAT long is sickening

[@MrDutchcrafter]

That poor man, I hope he finds some peace somewhere in his life.

[@steerpike66]

They're still at it in the missions: all over Africa and India and Asia and South America. It's still happening. They plead for conciliation and forgiveness but they are doing nothing; worse, they are continuing to compound their sadistic, unfeeling crimes.. Never forgive. Never forget.

[@soulbrotha63]

I am not Irish or Catholic or even religious. But I tell you, this is one of the most heartbreaking testimonies I have ever heard. Hopefully, the citizens of Ireland will use this as a rallying cry and FIGHT BACK!

[@spritemultipack]

Tears running down my face rn. I seen this video before without crying but thinking of the countless victims he's speaking for just crushed me.

[@THeavyArmsT]

Wow... That was powerful, hard to watch but glad I did.

[@davidegan8076]

I always think of this man I hope he gets peace

[@aureliomanalo]

Absolutely gutted me

[@Cathalion]

Respect for that man. Very brave and well spoken.

[@jbroaders]

This is the most moving contribution I have ever heard in 43 years on this planet. What a fantastic man to be able to talk so openly about such pain in such a lucid manner.

[@icecreamcancer]

So brave for speaking out, I hope this man is remembered for his courage.

[@lubabe9969]

My heart is broken. What a beautiful soul he has, it actually hurts my heart hearing him tell how his very soul was torn out by these monsters men.

[@Ittieger]

We need more strength like yours. “First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, and then you win.”

[@Broxi57]

My god. I'm sat here with tears in my eyes. That man deserves peace and justice. Harrowing stuff, I'm shocked and don't really know how to respond to be honest. Bless you Michael, no one should have to live with that. :(

[@GeorgeDonnelly]

This may be the most beautiful and heart-breaking KZbin video I have ever seen. What courage. What sadness. What passion. What life.

[@SlushGuppy]

Wow, I have so much respect and admiration for him. That is immense courage. I wish I could show as much courage and bravery to stand up as he did there. I know I can, and now I'll try harder. This man is an inspiration.

[@DavyCR88]

This is the most powerful thing i've ever seen. Great respect to this man.

[@lgpsan]

We'll never know how many children this man has saved by being vocal. How many children did not have to have the same fate? He is a hero. I'm so sorry for his suffering.

[@paddyceyle966]

As a young Irish person I am disgusted by our past. The state and church have been interlinked since the 1930s for years and to hear what these people had to endure in some of these homes is disgusting. Babies also buried in septic tanks and yet no real proper inquiries. Fianna Fáil have been corrupting this country since the 1980’s with their backhanding and while all these horrible things occurred during their tenure they don’t even have the decency to follow it up properly. We have a beautiful little country and are very lucky to have so many mnc’s to keep our economy going but unfortunately no back up plan if they pull out. In addition to this rural Ireland is being completely ignored and left to rot and therefore most people have to go to Dublin for work where you pay 1000 a month for a bed in a kitchen. Therefore you can’t really blame Irish young people for leaving this Island to more greener pastures.

[@thefreakingmoon5640]

The bravery it took to stand up and say that.

[@JeanySullivan]

What a brave man! I wish him all the best and hope he find peace despite the horrible crimes that were done to him.

[@mch158]

This is simply heartbreaking, its not some child crying out of pain, its a grown man speaking with such emotion after his whole life shows how affecting this must have been for him.

[@angelicann2699]

God Bless this lovely Gentleman for Speaking up!!!! Years & years have passed & NO JUSTICE!!!!! Enough is enough!!!!! Government/State are going down!!!! Finally FREEDOM 💕🌏💞

[@seigedrakonera5689]

The amount of hurt in his words was so palpable it brought me to tears but the strength in them even more powerful. That is one strong an brave man.

[@1948DESMOND]

This good gentleman has done both his purgatory and hell here on earth. i would love to know how the perpetrators of those horrible deeds are doing now in the happy hunting ground. not so happy, i would imagine. the r.c. church tried, and succeeded, in transferring its hatred of both women and sex onto the unquestioning shoulders of young men. they carry on this tradition of evil, some of them, that is.

[@SeriouslyCoolVideos]

Sir I am so sorry to know what you and many others had to go through. Your bravery is unimaginable and your story brought me to tears. So much respect. The humanity that you display goes through even the most desensitized audience. I really wish you had and will have a happy life despite this atrocity. Lots of love

[@deucemcallister13]

What a brave fellow.

[@envyassureddrummer]

Absolutely incredible speech. The courage to not just face his demons publicly but to do so so eloquently and boldly... What a hero he is to so many, probably without even realising how so

[@RobSmith2016]

hell is isnt hot enough for those monsters

[@seamusbracken3889]

Here after watching Redress on Rte. Absolutely shocking. Heart nearly out of my chest. Upsetting is an understatement.

[@amtha9077]

This is the speech that ended the reputation of the Catholic Church in Ireland.

[@nickbrown3571]

How easily they move on as if he had said nothing at all. Very disturbing how dead inside these people are, very disturbing.

[@nicolacoffey2802]

Just listened to the documentary this evening about Blackrock college. It reminded me of the pain in my heart I got when I watched this. 💔

[@markkelly2058]

my god what can you say to this

[@moneybeet78]

"I'd like to help put an end to this..."

[@johncaffrey5413]

I have no idea how those politicians could sit there, hear this most painful story and not be moved to tears. The tears are coursing down my cheeks as I write this in honour of this real man

[@asaploui]

The emotion in his voice hurt me. This is so strong and the message is a great message.

[@ferryhouse77]

It should also be asked off the 'so called support group leaders, (Like John kelly, micheal Waters, Aislinn Centre, Right of place etc) why they done a deal with the depts of Health and Justice....not to investigate abuses of children in other institutions!

[@Macho_Fantastico]

Holy cow, that was powerful. Imagine that man as lived with that his entire life.

[@johnmccann5477]

Have you noticed at the end this man's utterly harrowing statement, the only two who do not applaud are from the two parties who now want to set up government in our country ( ours not yours) you despicable spineless cowards. God bless this man and his total courageous example to all of us.

[@iketyson718]

Reddit brought me here. This is sobering.

[@jaffacalling53]

Just wait until you hear about the sexual abuse that takes place in synagogues. Oh wait, you won't hear about that on reddit lol.

[@smelly9997]

@@jaffacalling53 this is a video about a heartbroken man talking about crimes done against him and all you can do is avoid the catholic churches sin and shove it on to synagogues as if thatll make it go away, absolute disgrace

[@Cal6009]

I think we should take a step aside from religion and take a moment to appreciate the courage that it took for this man to come forward and say what he said. Bravo sir, you are one of the bravest men I have ever seen.

[@TabithaSyrah]

thank you michael

[@robertpirsig5011]

The bravery of this man is humbling.

[@gerardcollins80]

Every time I feel tempted to attend Mass again, I watch testimonies like this to remind myself why I stopped attending in the first place.

[@gerryhannan9463]

Absolutely incredible man, so strong

[@cotoyo16]

The hair stands on my neck and my eyes water every time I hear this.

[@LaPtiteAnglaise]

My god. The bravery to come forward. It happened to a close member of my family as a child. It’s the most evil betrayal of the most vulnerable. It stays with them forever.

[@zakbdz]

Imagine disliking this video

[@GreenLantirn]

I could barely watch 2 minutes of this. I cannot even _imagine_ the pain this gentleman must be going through. Hats off to him; he's very, very brave.

[@vejeke]

"You either have a God who sends child rapists to rape children or you have a God who simply watches it and says, ‘When you’re done, I’m going to punish you.’ If I could stop a person from raping a child, I would. That’s the difference between me and your God." - Tracie Harris, The Atheist Experience.

[@SquornshellousZeta]

This man is amazing, how the panel can keep such a stony face amazes and disgusts me. I've seen this numerous times now, and it always makes me cry. To think what he has had to deal all his life, it really doesn't bear thinking about.

[@UltraVert]

What bravery..

[@jawnmj]

The bravest man I have ever heard in my life. ❤

[@NikoHL]

That was shocking testimony. What's being done about child abuse by "Relegious " orders in Ireland now ???

[@NAZ1301]

An extremely brave man.

[@d90yqv]

@39Auldkellier sadly, Henry VIII was never doctrinally separated from Rome. He died a Catholic, as any Tudor historian will tell you.

[@rob162100]

This is why Ireland needed to change. I feel dearly for this man

[@GrunkleSpam]

Powerful stuff here man, I'm about to cry my eyes out over that..

[@DrBob370]

My heart goes out to this man. It is people like these ministers that make me wish that there was a heaven and hell so that those ministers and bishops and priests could be truly punished.

[@1948DESMOND]

but there are catholics out there who think popes and parish priests and bishops are on first name terms with god the father. these simpletons out there think the princes of the church have already booked their places in heaven. how do you get through to the mentallity of those lower class simpletons? they are usually the people who end up in industrial homes and borstals anyway. education and critical thinking should be made compulsory, especially the latter to third level students.

[@menheal2255]

This is why religion is so dangerous. Religious people usually deny the harm religion causes.

[@geroutathat]

Because there are loads of people out there who never had a priest even look at them wrong. Do you hold the chancellor of germany responsible for stuff the Nazis did? no. Do you hold the minister for education responsible for the high rate of sexual abuse in state run universitites? no But you want to hold the pope responsible, which is your opinion, but don't paint it as you being anything other than anti catholic. Also it shows how wrong you were that in 2018, 7 students got top grades in the leaving cert and all came from Christian brother, or former christian brother schools with strong ties to the church. Borstals indeed.

[@menheal2255]

@@geroutathat Yes, because the Pope's have continually covered up the pedophile priests. Please stop being so intellectually dishonest.

[@Carhuclough]

But, the clergy still control our schools............so critical thinking will NOT be thought.

[@elektrovert]

Bullshit. The Pope is the head of the church, an organisation that refuses to hold these monsters accountable, and in fact goes out of it's way to hide them. Of course he's responsible.

[@stuartsaint4581]

Such brutal honesty, the bit that always gets me is seeing his family members next to him being put through the mill.

[@quijon4]

true guts , and gentleman to , x

[@Oivoi]

Huge respect for this guy. So few would have been able to do what he did.

[@Messiahs]

Damn I have tears in my eyes....

[@MimiYouyu]

God Bless that man.

[@Yodaman293]

Boom. Bless you sir.

[@mdmakk]

This is an atheist saying to STOP TALKING ABOUT IT! This is one of the most powerful videos I've seen and we should focus on what it has to say, a powerful voice against the injustices in Ireland.

[@John52953]

Remember Wexford?

[@John52953]

I hate to burst your bubble, but I am far from a genius and really had no idea what this gentleman was talking about. So I'm sorry if I offended your common sense. I'd still like to know exactly what it was the councilman meant.

[@greyjackal]

No, he supported him in Wexford's byelection

[@John52953]

I live in %he United States and don't have the privelege of viewing this first-hand on Irish TV. I understand, however, that not too long after this panel, he gave an interview on some talk show. I've see it here on KZbin, but can find it no more. In this interview, he says that when he went before the panel, he had no intention (or maybe it was no idea) of counding off the eay he did. Might you have the link to this talk show he was on? Also, how is he doing these days?

[@greyjackal]

I don't I'm afraid, I'm out at the moment. I'm not Irish either, just remember when on made the news in the rest of the UK

[@CoolRanchSociology]

How dare you ask an honest question and try to educate yourself. For shame.

[@jimmurphy4083]

Heartbreaking, I saw it live on its airing on tv then and it floored me, this is the second time and its still as shocking. Best wishes to this man and his family.

[@roadman73]

The most moving video on youtube i have seen.

[@000DAAN000]

This got me, all my respect to this man who can stay fairly calm and stand up to the system like that. I wish i could say i could do such a thing

[@holliemaeross]

Just stumbled across this video im balling my eyes out

[@nejuw]

Noel Dempsey's face. A lot of ultra religious in the cabinet at that time. Preferred to get the taxpayers to pay compensation to these poor people and only asked for a pittance from the religious orders, a pittance they still haven't paid in full yet. That man speaking was a hero.

[@scoobycat20]

I tried the link at the end to find the full show and to see if the minister responded however the link went to the same clip, does anyone know if this man was responded to?

[@KateHornby]

In the description it says he (the man in audience) asked a question then once the panel replied he stated this. Powerful testimony!

[@steerpike66]

What could you say? I'd crawl into a hole and never come out. That particular minister is a crass, sneering oaf to boot. A stupid Dail bar timeserver without a shred of intellectual or moral worthiness.

[@djlookwood]

Great example of the anger and pain being expressed without attacking the PERSON. The work of facing this truth is not easy, and whilst nager is valid, it is when it becomes a personal attack, rather than an honest expression, when anger is used as armouring, it can become toxic. What is clear is thet the roots of the problem are across all Institutions of Power, the Vatican, The State etc etc... What is also clear is that the understanding of HOW such behaviour emerges needs to be shared.

[@EmoGrapefruit]

thank you! someone gets it!

[@callanm100]

A wonderful brave man to stand up and be heard. It cannot be easy to do. Please I was going to say God but I have to wonder of the existence of a god who would allow little orphan children to be so terribly tortured. All alone these innocent children without a voice to speak for them or a soul to care. I had a short experience in 1st class with the sisters of mercy in Newtownforbes Co Longford as a 6 year old. I will never forget 2 small girls who were beaten unmercifully until they were blue.

[@timdaley2843]

DAMN STRAIGHT....U BLOODY LEGEND....

[@danrml]

Obviously it's already been said, but what an incredibly brave man. What a sad world it is when a man who has been through so much is forced to recount it just to try and get some understanding and make his point.