Mary Kenny
Fifty years ago, in 1971, a very fine Dominican priest (and philosopher), Fergal O’Connor, set up an organisation to support unmarried mothers, calling it ‘Ally’. In her autobiography, Political Woman the late Nuala Fennell, T.D. – the first minister for women’s rights – praised Fr O’Connor most especially for his pioneering and compassionate work in this field of social services.
Previously, in 1968, under his leadership of the Homeless Girls’ Society, Fr O’Connor founded the Sherrard House Hostel in Dublin, a residency for homeless young women, run by a female staff, with the instructions that discipline should not be punitive.
Fergal O’Connor became quite well known during the 1970s for his appearances on Gay Byrne’s Late Late Show. Gay liked him a lot, and also used him, to some extent, as a touchstone to air discussion of issues such as divorce. Fr O’Connor believed that Church and State should be separate on such matters, and that, in consequence, the State should be free to introduce divorce, if democratically supported. Fergal O’Connor also identified himself as being on the left – at one point, he described himself as a “Christian Marxist”.
Fr O’Connor – who I met briefly, and thought a gentle and kind man, afflicted by arthritis – has now been remembered, 50 years on, for his support for the plight of single mothers. Through ‘Ally’ these young girls were often placed with volunteer families during their pregnancy, rather than in institutions – since their own families sometimes rejected them.
False accusation
However, Fergal O’Connor’s kindness and compassion were rewarded by a false accusation of sexual and physical abuse which overshadowed the last years of his life, and caused him mental torment. In 2004, a former resident of Sherrard House accused him of having imposed a brutal regime, having connived at the rape of inmates, and having raped her himself.
The diocesan authorities passed this information on to the civil authorities and eventually the Garda; and a lengthy investigation followed. Eventually, the priest was exonerated – apart from anything else, Fr O’Connor’s severe arthritic condition made him incapable of inflicting either physical cruelty or rape. He died not long afterwards. His accuser Kathy O’Beirne wrote a best-selling book Don’t Ever Tell, whose lurid claims were disputed by friends and siblings, and shown to be false in a subsequent book by Hermann Kelly. But O’Beirne’s book is still available on Amazon.
Reputation
Fergal O’Connor’s good deeds and liberal reputation did not shield him from being maligned, living the last years of his life in reputational misery.
There’s a sardonic saying – “No good deed goes unpunished”, and alas, Father Fergal O’Connor’s good deeds are a sad exemplar.
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A tea a day keeps the doctor away
In these times of lockdown, how pleasant to remember the hospitality – which was once the household norm – of the kettle on the hob, and the ever-present offer of a cup of tea to any visitor.
In the TV satire Father Ted, the dotty Mrs Doyle (Pauline McLynn) is continually seen virtually forcing the clergy to take a cup of tea. “Ah go on! You will. You will.” Mrs Doyle’s enforced cup of tea has become a standard joke.
Well, maybe there was wisdom in Mrs Doyle’s daftness. Behind many a custom is common sense which research subsequently shows to have a basis in fact. A recent study from Newcastle University has found that drinking copious amounts of tea can have a positive impact on health, especially among older people.
Those over 85 years of age who drank more than five cups of tea a day were found to have better brain function, focus, attention span and psychomotor skills (link between movement and brain function).
So go on. Have a cuppa! You will, now, you will…
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I recently did a podcast interview on Catholic Ireland in memoir and memory with Damian Thompson, of the Spectator magazine. I’ve been grateful for very positive feedback. It can be heard at: @holysmoke@spectator – just google it and tune in!