St Joseph's Industrial School, Tralee
Encyclopedia
St Joseph's Industrial School, Tralee was an industrial school
in Tralee, County Kerry
, Ireland
. It was situated on the western side of Tralee, on the road to Ardfert
.
by John Mulchinock, a Tralee draper.
It was transformed into an industrial school by the request of the parish priest and the day school pupils were transferred to another Christian Brothers school in Tralee.
It was closed in 1970.
used pseudonyms.
, corporal punishment was not decreased.
In particular, the case of Br. Marceau (pseudonym) was cited as an example of how excessive punishment was not considered a problem unless it risked the reputation of the Christian Brothers or could bring about legal action. The Christian Brothers' handling of this case was described as "uncaring and reckless management by the Congregation".
Younger boys were victims of physical and sexual abuse by older boys.
Boys at Tralee were more vulnerable because they had no parents to protect them. They were also subject to what the report called "troublesome brothers" who were known to be dangerous and who were posted to Tralee.
Inadequate supervision led to sexual abuse of younger pupils by older pupils.
One acknowledged abuser was on the staff for 20 years.
Allegations that Robert Moore had received a beating from Brother Lafayette (pseudonym) had been made and the Christian Brothers acknowledged that the beating had happened but that the severity was unknown.
The Commission concluded that it is not possible to tell whether the beating Brother Lafayette gave Robert was connected with the boys' death. That the boys could not eat a meal without the threat of violence was described as "particularly cruel".
The Commission stated that there should have been an inquiry into Roberts' death given that he died shortly after being hit, as it could have discovered whether the beating was a factor in his death or if he was already seriously ill.
The boy has been named in the media as Joseph Pyke.
Industrial school
In Ireland the Industrial Schools Act of 1868 established industrial schools to care for "neglected, orphaned and abandoned children". By 1884 there were 5,049 children in such institutions....
in Tralee, County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. It was situated on the western side of Tralee, on the road to Ardfert
Ardfert
Ardfert is a village in County Kerry, Ireland. Historically a religious centre, the economy of the locality is driven by agriculture and its position as a dormitory town, being only 8 km from Tralee.-Origin:...
.
History
The school was initially a National school which had been founded on the gift of land and money to the Congregation of Christian BrothersCongregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
by John Mulchinock, a Tralee draper.
It was transformed into an industrial school by the request of the parish priest and the day school pupils were transferred to another Christian Brothers school in Tralee.
It was closed in 1970.
Ryan Commission
For legal reasons the CommissionCommission to Inquire into Child Abuse
The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse is one of a range of measures introduced by the Irish Government to investigate the extent and effects of abuse on children from 1936 onwards. It is commonly known in Ireland as the Ryan Commission , after its chair, Justice Seán Ryan...
used pseudonyms.
Physical abuse
The Commission concluded that physical aggression was used to control the large number of children, that despite the concerns of the Superior GeneralSuperior general
A Superior General, or General Superior, is the Superior at the head of a whole religious order or congregation.The term is mainly used as a generic term, while many orders and congregations use other specific titles, notably:* Abbot general...
, corporal punishment was not decreased.
In particular, the case of Br. Marceau (pseudonym) was cited as an example of how excessive punishment was not considered a problem unless it risked the reputation of the Christian Brothers or could bring about legal action. The Christian Brothers' handling of this case was described as "uncaring and reckless management by the Congregation".
Younger boys were victims of physical and sexual abuse by older boys.
Boys at Tralee were more vulnerable because they had no parents to protect them. They were also subject to what the report called "troublesome brothers" who were known to be dangerous and who were posted to Tralee.
Sexual abuse
A Brother Garon (pseudonym) was subject of complaints which a junior member of the Christian Brothers reported to three successive superior who didn't deal with it.Inadequate supervision led to sexual abuse of younger pupils by older pupils.
One acknowledged abuser was on the staff for 20 years.
Food
Despite there being a farm where food was sold for private profit, boys sometimes went hungry.Death of boy from school
Robert Moore (pseudonym), a 16 year old pupil in the school, died in Tralee County Hospital in the late 1950s. His death certificate recorded the cause of his death as "Bilateral Pleural Effusion. Senility. Certified", though the Commission noted that "Senility" was later amended to read "septicaemia".Allegations that Robert Moore had received a beating from Brother Lafayette (pseudonym) had been made and the Christian Brothers acknowledged that the beating had happened but that the severity was unknown.
The Commission concluded that it is not possible to tell whether the beating Brother Lafayette gave Robert was connected with the boys' death. That the boys could not eat a meal without the threat of violence was described as "particularly cruel".
The Commission stated that there should have been an inquiry into Roberts' death given that he died shortly after being hit, as it could have discovered whether the beating was a factor in his death or if he was already seriously ill.
The boy has been named in the media as Joseph Pyke.