meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
From Our Own Correspondent

Ireland's shame

From Our Own Correspondent

BBC

News, News Commentary

4.41.3K Ratings

🗓️ 16 January 2021

⏱️ 29 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week, the Irish Taoiseach described the findings of an official report into decades of abuse of women and children at mother and baby homes as a “dark, difficult and very shameful chapter of very recent Irish history.” The report acknowledged the harsh treatment was supported and condoned by the Irish State and the country’s churches. Those who survived the homes battled with long running prejudices and emotional scars, finds Chris Paige. Indonesian airlines have one of the worst safety records in Asia. The fatal crash on January 9th has again raised questions about how safe the country’s airlines are and brought back painful memories. The BBC’s Asia editor, Rebecca Henschke, reports. There’s been a sluggish start to Covid vaccinations in many parts of the EU complicated by public resistance and disinformation. In the Czech Republic, anti-vaccination activists made international headlines this week by wearing yellow Stars of David, claiming they were being ostracised just as Jews were in Nazi Germany. Rob Cameron has more. Somalia has been in a state of conflict for three decades and this is reflected in media coverage of the region. And yet, life goes on, with even a construction boom in Mogadishu. Mary Harper, the BBC’s Africa editor found that Somalis are tiring of stereotypes about their country as a place of violence and suffering. In Nova Scotia - the lobster season usually starts late in November and finishes in May – and between those months, most fishermen are not allowed to catch the crustaceans. But thanks to a treaty, signed with the British in 1761, the Mi’kmaq people are exempt from this and can fish all year round. One businessman is doing rather well out of it much to the consternation of those who do not have these rights, finds Greg Mercer. Presenter: Kate Adie Producer: Serena Tarling

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

BBC Sounds, music, radio podcasts.

0:05.0

Good morning.

0:06.4

Today in a world where flying seems both natural and a necessity,

0:11.4

there are worries in Indonesia where a crash last weekend highlighted a grim safety

0:16.6

record and many unanswered questions.

0:20.9

Vaccination is eagerly awaited by millions across Europe, but in Prague the anti-Vaxers

0:26.7

are protesting about perceived loss of freedoms, drawing disturbing parallels with Nazi Germany.

0:33.7

We're in Somalia, where we hear the locals are keen for the world to see a different, more peaceful

0:39.3

side to a country usually noted for outbreaks of violence and Nova Scotia is experiencing a small

0:46.4

war a lobster war with a lobster business testing its constitutional right to fish out of season.

0:55.0

First to Ireland and the official report on what the T-Sock described as a shocking dark difficult and shameful chapter of very recent Irish history.

1:06.6

The decades of abuse of women and children in mother and baby homes between 1922 and 1998. The appalling treatment was

1:16.1

condoned and supported by the state and the Catholic Church who have now

1:20.8

apologized. Many, particularly the survivors say the report didn't go far enough

1:27.2

to redress the damage, which buttressed by prejudice left many scars, says Chris Page.

1:35.0

P.J. Haverty turned 70 this year, but there is a scene from his youth which he recounts with striking

1:41.4

detail and clarity. It's something unremarkable on the face of it.

1:46.5

He was milking cows one evening on the farm where he lived in County Galway. A car drove

1:51.8

up a hill towards him. He didn't recognize the number plate because he'd never

1:56.2

seen British registration numbers before. Two ladies were in it, one wound down the window and asked for the family who brought him up.

2:05.1

He pointed her towards the house.

2:07.1

PJ says, she kept looking at me and smiling.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.