Lisburn man speaks out about years of suffering at Lissue House

A LISBURN man who was abused at Lissue House has spoken out about his years in care.

David Simpson, who still lives in the city, was taken into care at the age of 7 after his parents separated. He was sent to Lissue House where he says he was badly beaten and humiliated on a daily basis.

In 1993, after leaving the care system, David reported the abuse to the police but, he says, nothing was ever done about it.

“When I told staff at Lissue that I would report them to the police, they laughed in my face and told me no-one would believe me,” said David.

“What I have written down is nothing compared to what I had to go through on a daily basis. It wasn’t just me.”

In a statement made to the police in 1993 David told of the treatment he received at the Lisburn hospital, including being locked in his room, stripped naked, beaten on a daily basis and being dragged by the hair down the corridors.

After being caught in the kitchen one night, David recalls: “Before I got out of the kitchen door, a member of staff burst through the door and grabbed me by the hair. He dragged me out of the kitchen on my back. I was screaming and shouting. He dragged me along three corridors, through doors where my legs caught. I was in pyjamas and bare feet. He dragged me up two flights of stairs on my back and threw me into my room.”

On another occasion David remembers having water thrown over him after he tried to barricade himself in his room. “I was pinned down to the floor and stripped naked,” he explained. “I was held down on my stomach and given an injection. I was put onto the bed and passed out.”

David also recalls the harsh treatment another child at the hospital received. “A young girl who was emaciated and had short cropped dyed blonde hair wasn’t allowed out of her room.

“She was anorexic and was kept in the furthest room from the common area. She was locked in isolation, given rags to wear and had to earn every privilege by putting on weight.

“You had to go past her room to the toilet and she would be standing at the door begging for help, for anyone to talk to. She was never allowed visitors.

“She was a couple of years older than me and I used to sneak her books to read. Her time in Lissue revolved around that room.”

David, who is trying to write a book about his experience of the care system in Northern Ireland, says he is still suffering as a result of his treatment at Lissue House.

“I had shoulder surgery a few years ago because my shoulders were so weak,” he explained. “After I left care they kept dislocating. I believe it was a direct link to the abuse I suffered in care. Staff would often restrain you by putting your arm up your back to the point of dislocation.”

David has also set up the ‘Lissue Hospital Abuse Support Group’ on Facebook, where people can share their experiences at the Lisburn hospital. The group can be found by searching ‘Lissue Hospital Abuse Support Group’.

Health Minister Edwin Poots has promised the Assembly that he will do all in his power to protect children and vulnerable adults from potential abusers.

The Minister was briefing the Assembly on complaints of abuse of children at Lissue and Forster Green Hospitals dating back to the 1980s.

The Minister assured members there has been no cover up within the Health and Social Care sector in investigating allegations of abuse at the Hospitals.

“I can be absolutely clear there will never be, nor has there previously been, any form of a cover up within the Department or the Health and Social Care service, though some individuals who may have been involved in abuse will have tried to cover their tracks” he said.

“Let me assure the Assembly that this issue has never stopped being the focus of attention in my Department, in the Health and Social Care system, and, I believe, in the PSNI.

“I am determined that within my Department it is clear that this behaviour was and remains unacceptable and all historical abuse complaints will be dealt with seriously. I want to know what happened. I will demand answers about who was involved so that we can ensure that this type of behaviour is identified quickly and addressed urgently.”

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