States of Fear
Encyclopedia
States of Fear was a documentary series produced by Mary Raftery
and broadcast on the Irish
television channel Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ
) between April and May 1999.
The film detailed abuse suffered by children between the 1930s and 1970s in the state childcare system of Ireland
, primarily in the Reformatory and Industrial Schools. After public outcry, Irish Taoiseach
Bertie Ahern
apologised on behalf of the State.
The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse
was established in 2000 and delivered its Report in May 2009.
A 2005 Irish Times editorial suggested that the documentary influenced jury members and played a role in the miscarriage of justice
against Nora Wall
.
Mary Raftery
Mary Raftery is an Irish filmmaker and writer.Her film States of fear was broadcast on the Irish television channel Raidió Teilifís Éireann in 1999....
and broadcast on the Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
television channel Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
) between April and May 1999.
The film detailed abuse suffered by children between the 1930s and 1970s in the state childcare system of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, primarily in the Reformatory and Industrial Schools. After public outcry, Irish Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern
Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....
apologised on behalf of the State.
The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse
Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse
The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse is one of a range of measures introduced by the Irish Government to investigate the extent and effects of abuse on children from 1936 onwards. It is commonly known in Ireland as the Ryan Commission , after its chair, Justice Seán Ryan...
was established in 2000 and delivered its Report in May 2009.
A 2005 Irish Times editorial suggested that the documentary influenced jury members and played a role in the miscarriage of justice
Miscarriage of justice
A miscarriage of justice primarily is the conviction and punishment of a person for a crime they did not commit. The term can also apply to errors in the other direction—"errors of impunity", and to civil cases. Most criminal justice systems have some means to overturn, or "quash", a wrongful...
against Nora Wall
Nora Wall
Nora Wall is a former Irish nun of the Sisters of Mercy who was wrongfully convicted of rape in June 1999, and served four days of a life sentence in July 1999, before her conviction was quashed. She was officially declared the victim of a miscarriage of justice in December 2005...
.