WILLIAM GOES TO BOSTON OR GOES BLIND!

Hello, I’d like to introduce my partner to you. His name is William Gorry. He is blind. He is CEO and co-founder of RISN (Residential Institutions Survivor’s Network) who has worked tirelessly and directly with countless Redress Survivors, from Residential Homes and Industrial Schools. He obtained a ministerial promissory letter for survivor-led consultation talks in 2017. For the last seven years, he has worked to achieve the very best in end of life care and support for survivors from reluctant, if not stubborn, governmental authorities.

For all that, William has so selflessly given of himself and his finances over the years that it would be great if people might help him now.

William is clinically blind with significant visual impairment, as in 1/60 in the right eye and only counting fingers in the left. He has recently been diagnosed with congenital aniridia, where his condition is expected to deteriorate rapidly with complete sight loss in 4 to 6 months. There is no effective option available except for one offered by the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital in Boston according to his treating ophthalmologist at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin. The cost of assessment, treatment and travel for the only available medical intervention is approximately $60,000 (€55,000). Until an assessment warrants the treatment, the full amount is required up front. He needs to front the full amount to initiate the process for an appointment.

William’s humanity has done so much for survivors of institutionalised child sexual abuse, making him a worthy recipient of yours.

Please donate and give William a brighter future and hope of continued sight.

Thank you so much for your help.

William’s Background Information.

* October 2017: William began a hunger strike protest to call for a meeting with the Minister for Education in order to provide survivor-led, all inclusive, non-discriminatory consultation talks for redress survivors who were former residents and inmates of Residential Homes and Industrial Schools. William insisted that the voice of redress survivors ought to be heard in supporting their interests and concerns following the Dáil debate on serious failures and failings in providing vital services to survivors and their families. Dáil debates 24th May 2017 - http://bit.ly/3VoTZ3f and 25th May 2017 - http://bit.ly/4clG2ci. William’s proposed talks were defined to include the deaf, the hard of hearing, the traveller community, those with physical disabilities, the visually impaired and the blind. They were to be survivor-led, all-inclusive and non-discriminatory.

* November 2017: On 17th November, William received a ministerial promissory letter - https://bit.ly/2R4OdDR - in support of his call to provide survivor-led, all inclusive, non-discriminatory consultation talks for redress survivors in Ireland and the UK.

* December 2017: On the 7th December, RISN (Residential Institutions Survivor’s Network) was established to grant redress survivors and their families, in Ireland and the UK, the opportunity of having their voices heard.

* 2017-2024: William made representation and advocated, without discrimination or exclusion, for all redress survivors, which included the deaf, the blind, the deafblind, the travelling community, and those with disabilities.

* William personally offered assistance to illiterate survivors in completing their forms to local authorities, state departments and other welfare agencies.

* William worked on the repatriation of survivors from countries in Europe, back to their native Ireland.

* William met and assisted redress survivors with their Caranua complex and complicated applications for supports and services out of redress funds.

* William attended and supported survivors through their court cases.

* William helped to refer survivors to professional services such as GPs, dentists, counsellors, psychologists, physiotherapists, chiropodists, HSE services, solicitors, and homeless services.

* William offered survivors a supportive ear in listening to their call for help and assistance at times when their trauma and distress was too much, at times when they sought to escape their pain and suffering, wanting to end their life in attempted suicide.

* William was available in the very early hours of the morning, when survivors were alone with no one to talk to, when it was dark and quiet, and many were asleep in their bed.

* William saved many of these lives with the help of emergency services or by spending time with them on the phone or in person listening to them and reassuring them of being there any time.

* 2018: William worked with the Department of Education in planning the survivor-led, all-inclusive, non-discriminatory consultation talks to no avail.

* 2018 provided an international focus on William’s work at the time of the Papal Visit in August, speaking to many journalists from the UK, France, Belgium etc. in a highlight article done by the BBC - https://bbc.in/2zPFXMW - “Ireland’s Hidden Survivors”.

* 2019 was the 20th Anniversary of the State Apology on the 11 May 1999 and another year of missed opportunity to deliver on survivor supports in medical cards, offering complete coverage, social welfare special pension top-ups, and an end of life package inclusive of funeral supports for the many who were dying. The Government selected Survivor Panel was a sham, and further tactic to delay delivery of those vital redress survivor supports whilst appearing to do otherwise.

* William’s achievements and commitments to Redress Survivors and their needs through all his case work for hundreds of survivors, their partners, and their families has been the mission of RISN (Residential Institutions Survivor’s Network) which never received a cent from the Irish State and has been funded in a voluntary capacity out of William’s own pocket.

* William has campaigned for the attention and support needs of so many Redress Survivors living in great distress, with an urgent focus on emergency services at their end of life, including survivor families who have no funds to pay for the funeral costs of their loved ones. RISN was first to represent the issue where funerals are the number one concern of redress survivors and their families today.

Let’s support William who wants nothing more than to continue his work for redress survivors giving them a brighter future. Let’s support William and give him a brighter future also.