Statement of the Sisters of Mercy Leadership Team

5th May 2004

On behalf of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy we, the Central Leadership Team, wish to say to all those who as children lived in our Orphanages/Industrial schools:

We accept unreservedly that many of you who spent your childhoods in Orphanages/ Industrial schools run by our Congregation were hurt and damaged while in our care. We believe that you suffered physical and emotional trauma.

We have in the past publicly apologised to you. We know that you heard our apology then as conditional and less than complete. Now without reservation we apologise unconditionally to each one of you for the suffering we have caused.

We express our heartfelt sorrow and ask your forgiveness. We ask forgiveness for our failure to care for you and protect you in the past and for our failure to hear you in the present.

We are distressed by our failures. We have been earnestly searching to find a way to bring about healing. We need your help to do this.

We recognise that this statement may be considered too little too late. We make it in the hope that it will be a further step in the long process of healing the pain that we as a Congregation have caused. Finally we failed those sisters in our Congregation whom we put in the situation of caring for you without adequate supports or resources.

For that too, we apologise and take responsibility.