“A shiver went up my back… followed by the horrors, the shocks keep coming. Is there nothing else? There has to be an end to this somewhere.”
The nation is still coming to terms with the discovery of “significant quantities” of human remains at the site of the Mother and Baby home in Tuam by the Commission of Investigation, initially set up following allegations about the deaths of 800 babies in Galway.
Throughout the country, people reacted with horror to the news and on the Late Late Show on Friday night, Rosemary Adaser, who experienced horrific abuse growing up mixed race in Ireland’s mother and baby homes and industrial schools, gave a powerful account of her own personal reaction.
Some viewers may find Rosemary’s admissions disturbing.
Survivor of the Mother and Baby homes, Rosemary Adaser on the shock of hearing today's news about the #tuambabies #latelate pic.twitter.com/FtiXYODYec
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) March 3, 2017
Rosemary also gave a harrowing account of her own personal experience of growing up mixed race in the schools, detailing the humiliation she was subjected to, being beaten and being subject to sexual abuse, details that moved Rosemary and some of the audience to tears.
Rosemary, who was joined on the couch by Brian Rothery, the foster father who helped build her back up after years of suffering, also revealed that nuns at the mother and baby school had details about the identity of her father and never revealed it to her.
She also had a message to others who endured similar experiences of mixed race abuse, encouraging them to say that they’re “Irish and proud” often enough so that they won’t be questioned by friends and neighbours any longer.
It makes for very moving viewing.
All clips via The Late Late Show
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