Madam, – Our beloved son Richard is 42 and had Down’s syndrome. He loves the care workers who look after him in a group home called Bailey View attached to Dunmore House, Glenageary, Co Dublin. This service was originally run by St John of God’s Brothers mostly out of the goodness of their hearts until it was handed over to a secular organisation, Carmona Services, which is doing very progressive work with back-up from St John of God’s Brothers.
Richard’s father and I hope Richard will be housed in a group home right to the end of his life. Group homes are more humane than institutions.
It is worth mentioning that as a citizen of this State, Richard has a vote and he uses it on polling day without fail. Eamon Gilmore, of the Labour Party, has done more than any other politician to urge care of the intellectually disabled.
– Yours, etc,