Louth councillors pass amended motion supporting victims of child sexual abuse

Cllrs at the Louth County Council July meeting, passed an amended motion supporting victims of child sexual abuse and condeming the litigation strategy of the Christian Brother Order, but referred the decision on rescinding of the Freedom of Drogheda bestowed on the former head of the Christian Brothers Order in Ireland, to the Borough District of Drogheda.

Cllr Maeve Yore's motion stated: “That Louth County Council supports all victims of child sexual abuse and condemns the current litigation strategy chosen by the Christian Brother Order as illustrated on RTE Prime Time 7 February 2023.

“Furthermore that this Council writes to the Christian Brother leadership team condeming this litigation strategy.

“Furthermore that this Council calls upon our members in the Borough District of Drogheda to rescind the Freedom of Drogheda bestowed on the former leader of the Christian Brothers, Edmund Garvey.”

At the meeting, Cllr Kevin Callan said that he fully agreed with the first two paragraphs of the motion, in that it was a matter for the members of the County Council, but that the third paragraph related to a matter that was for the Borough District of Drogheda to decide.

Cllr Callan proposed that the meeting debated the first two paragraphs, and if it agreed, that the third paragraph be left for the Drogheda members to deal with.

A vote was put to the members on amending the motion as put forward by Cllr Callan, which was passed overwhelmingly, with just three councillors voting against doing so.

Following the vote a number of councillors spoke on the matter, in what was a highly charged debate. Cllr Paddy McQuillan who had spoken ahead of the vote, said he fully supported the motion and that rescinding the Freedom of Drogheda was the right thing to do.

Cllr Keelan said that the motion had been submitted for a previous meeting but was not heard for fear of defamation. Cllr Keelan enquired as to who decided that it was once defamatory but now wasn't. He added that the members should be voting that day to remove the Freedom of Drogheda from Brother Garvey.

Cllr Yore said she was disappointed in how the motion was proceeding and asked for confirmation that the Drogheda Borough would be dealing with rescinding of the Freedom of Drogheda at its September meeting.

Cllr Yore said the motion was about the survivors of sexual abuse and that victims had contacted them asking for their support.

Cllr Kevin Meenan said that the Sinn Féin party was fully behind the first two paragraphs of the motion and fully supported the victims of abuse.

Cllr Eileen Tully told the meeting that in the past while working as a nurse, she came across “unspeakable trauma” and added that as Mayor of Drogheda, “I guarantee that this will be on the agenda”, for the September meeting