6/6
It is the the State’s responsibility to investigate #Bessboro, outsourcing it to developers is not acceptable.
Give closure to all who who were in #Bessboro,those born there, the Birth Mothers, those who died there, those buried there!
#MotherandBabyHomes
5/6
The State refuse to investigate #Bessboro
They refuse to honour the missing babies who were in the care of the State who are buried in the grounds.
They deserve to at least be remembered, their brief lives honoured!
4/6
There are times when I wish I was 1 of those babies who died in #Bessboro
My childhood almost destroyed me, I battle every day with my #Trauma
If I had not survived #Bessboro no one would know I had even existed
3/6
was #sexuallyabused by him on every ‘visit’ for 4 years.
I miscarried at the age of 12, my mother locked me in my bedroom to miscarry alone, petrified I was dying as I didn’t know what was happening to me.
I wished I had never been born!
2/6
I have a 3rd degree burn on my arm from when my mother threw boiling soup at me for not eating it, I wasn’t hungry that day as it was the 1st time my grandfather had #raped me, I was 8 years old!
I was brought to ‘visit’ my grandfather every week,
🧵1/6
I was born in #Bessboro in the early 70’s.
A baby with dark hair & brown eyes had been ordered by a couple.
I fit the bill.
At 7 weeks old I was placed with the couple.
My adoptive mother was a cold, unloving woman, I was bought to complete the ‘family’.
6/6
It is unacceptable that 761 babies who were in the care of the State don’t matter.
They were human beings & albeit briefly, citizens of Ireland. They deserve to be found, honoured & given a proper burial.
This is not #Justice
#ForgottenDead
5/6
The proposal was to be presented to city councillors at their next meeting. This didn’t happen & despite numerous follow up emails I got no definitive answer as to whether the council would support the investigation.
4/6
The independent investigation of 60 acres was costed at €30k.
It was proposed that the council would fund €10k as they were directly responsible for the running of #Bessborough
I answered all their questions & both were surprised at the low cost evaluation
3/6
Our proposal to the Lord Mayor & Seamus McGrath TD outlined inaccuracies between the Commission of Investigation report & the 5th Interim Report.
It included a breakdown of the cost of an independent investigation & how it would be funded.
2/6
Yes, the State should’ve preserved the remaining #Bessborough grounds, but once the council rezoned the land for residential development it was never going to be preserved by the state.
The resting places of 761 babies that died in #Bessborough are unknown
🧵1/6
In October 2025 I on behalf of myself & @danielmloftus met with Lord Mayor Fergal Dennehy & Seamus McGrath TD & with a proposal for an independent investigation of the remaining 60 acres at #Bessborough
Our stance has always been about finding the missing babies.
They posted apology on X even though they stated in January that they would no longer use their X account. No apology posted on BlueSky 🤷♀️. I’d be surprised if they do well in next GE, they’ve become quite insignificant
4/4
@HSESouthWest I offered to work with you to design a #TraumaInformed healthcare model yet you refused to engage.
Research experts from @ucc.ie are no substitute for survivor input
@bernardgloster.bsky.social
3/4
While a Psychologists input is vital it is doomed to cause more harm without #Survivor input.
The reply from HSE South West never acknowledged my healthcare experiences.
I sent a reply on 12th Dec.2025 & have yet to receive a response.
2/4
My podcasts outline the effect that #Trauma has on a patient when healthcare staff are uneducated in how to treat a #CSA Survivor.
The reply I got to my email was dismissive, citing that HSE South West was trialing a Trauma Unformed Model designed by a Psychologist
🧵1/4
In Nov I forwarded my podcasts to Dr.Andy Phillips of @HSE South West & requested a meeting to discuss the unacceptable delay in implementing Mandatory #TraumaInformed Healthcare.
Part One — open.spotify.com/episode/2A6fsx…
Part Two �� open.spotify.com/episode/3T6iPd�Pd…
For those who struggled during 2025, we did it!
We got through yet another year, it was tough, but we fought hard & we are here to welcome 2026!
Remember you are a warrior, you are enough & you should be so proud of yourself 😘
Wishing everyone a calm #NewYear2026
4/4
If these podcasts help even 1 survivor of #CSA or #DomesticAbuse then all of this will have been worth it.
If these podcasts help to change our #HealthCare system I will have helped save other survivors from being triggered when they are physically unwell
3/4
I’ve lost 2 stone in weight since these podcasts were recorded.
I have been forcing myself to eat, battling to focus on everyday tasks, hugging myself to sleep at night.
Hugging myself helps me to fight off my darkest memories when I feel so alone.
2/4
Listening to myself telling my life story was so hard.
I’d to listen to these podcasts a few times before they were edited & voice altered.
The 1st time I listened I couldn’t believe that I was talking about my life, the #abuse, the poor choices I made
🧵1/4
The hardest part of recording these #podcasts was the aftermath.
I’ve been very open about my experience of #CSA here but I rarely talk about my experience of #DomesticAbuse
Part One — open.spotify.com/episode/2A6f...
Part Two — open.spotify.com/episode/3T6i...
Almost a third of the population of Ireland have experienced #ChildSexualAbuse yet our healthcare system has no Mandatory Trauma Informed Treatment Model
Podcast Part 2 explains why an uneducated system is unacceptable
@hselive.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/3T6i...
Latest news! 📚 Frank Brehany is thrilled to announce the launch of the paperback edition of his book 'A Magdalene Rose' today! Discover this true story & grab your paperback edition copy now through Frank Brehany's Booksby Bookshop! 🌹 Read more: wix.to/iQlLUil #AMagdaleneRose #BookLaunch #AuthorLife
Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) is an annual observance that memorializes individuals who have lost their lives as a result of anti-transgender violence. The day is observed on November 20th each year to honor the memory of those who have been murdered due to transphobia and to raise awareness about the ongoing violence and discrimination faced by the transgender community.
Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR). We honour the memory of those who have been murdered due to transphobia and to raise awareness about the ongoing violence and discrimination faced by the transgender community.
#TDoR
I’m not here much John but I can see those I’m following cause I set up a ‘my BlueSky favourites’, tap on the photo & you’ll see it at the top
Trigger warning ‼️
This is Part 1 of a podcast I did.
This is my life story
#Adoptee
#CSA
#DomesticAbuse open.spotify.com/episode/2A6f...
Today is #AdopteeRemembranceDay
A day to remember adoptees who’ve died by suicide, endured abuse, those who suffer unseen battles & those who suffer adoption trauma.
Today is my Day!
#CSA
#Adoptees deserve to be seen & heard every day, not just today!
Thanks Stephen 🙏
Thank you 🙏