A group of 85 children affected by radiation from the Chernobyl nuclear accident have begun a month-long visit to Ireland. The stay is part of a special Christmas rest and recuperation programme organised by the Chernobyl Children's Project.
"These children will have seen more deaths than life," said Ms Adi Roche, director of the project at Shannon Airport earlier this week when she welcomed three invalided boys. They live in what is still described as a mental asylum outside Minsk.
The 85 children, aged seven to 14 years, will spend almost a month with families in various parts of Ireland.
Wheelchairs were sent to Belarus for the three boys who are in need of special care. They will be staying with Ms Eileen Brophy, founder of the Delta Centre in Carlow, where there are already 56 children suffering from cerebral palsy and cystic fibrosis.
The Chernobyl Children's Project has organised a renovation programme at the Minsk institution. It has a budget of almost £500,000, and is in the name of the Coveney family of Cork. Mr Noel Walsh of Waterford, who was directing the building, returned with the boys for Christmas.
It was a day of special joy for Ms Theresa Hughes and Ms Cora Judge, of Claremorris, Co Mayo, who on Monday received adoption papers for two orphan sisters who travelled with the group, Alla (13) and Vera (11).
There had been a four-year wait for final approval of the adoptions, although the children had been on frequent visits to Mayo during that time. The sisters had said they would like to be near each other but not necessarily with the same family. The Hugheses already have five children aged from 12 months to 11 years and the Judges have four, aged 16 to 20.
A teacher and interpreter on his fifth visit to Ireland with the groups, said most of the children would be celebrating two Christmas days. Like 70 per cent of the people of Belarus, they are members of the Orthodox Church who celebrate Christmas Day on January 7th.