The Dutch
Public Prosecution Office is investigating the deaths of 34 boys in the early
1950s in an institution for the mentally handicapped in the southern province
of Limburg. The deaths were reported by the Deetman Commission, which is
investigating the sexual abuse of children in the Roman Catholic church.
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| Former Roman Catholic St. Joseph institution in the town of Heel |
Roman
Catholic monks were responsible for the care of mentally-handicapped children
in the former St. Joseph institution in the town of Heel near Roermond. An
investigation of archives by the Deetman Commission has revealed that the
number of deaths in the institution in the early 1950s was much higher than
average. The death rate at the home increased in 1952, 1953 and 1954. It is not
clear why the rate dropped back down after 1954. All the cases were boys under
18-years-old.
This
information was made known at the end of the same decade to the diocese of
Roermond, the government’s Labour Inspectorate, the former Catholic Alliance
for the Protection of Children and possibly to the health inspectorate, reports
regional daily Dagblad De Limburger. The home was run by the Catholic church
until 1969, when it was taken over by the Daelzicht foundation.
The Public
Prosecution Office refuses to comment on the causes of the 34 deaths. Although
it has indicated to the Limburger that due to the lapse of time, no
prosecutions can take place if any crimes were committed. The PPO wants to
investigate what caused the deaths “with a view of the impact and extent of the
case.” It is possible that the deaths were connected to sexual abuse.
Both the
Public Prosecution Office and the Deetman Commission have declined to comment
on how the suspicious deaths came to light back in the 1950s. The Public
Prosecution Office was not aware of the possibly suspicious deaths of the 34
children. It is not known whether there was a conscious effort on the part of
the church or other organisations to cover up the affair a half century ago.
The diocese
of Roermond has issued a statement saying it welcomes the investigation and has
opened its archives to encourage research.
"We want to get away from the cover-up practices, have opened the
archives and encourage this kind of research," says a church spokesperson.
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