Sir, The Dear Daughter film producer, Louis Lentin, in his article relating to that film (April 5th), though not naming me, quoted a portion of my letter to your paper (March 19th). He seemed astonished that I should even question the accuracy of the incidents portrayed in the film.
I don't think it amazing that should express reservations about unquestioned acceptance of the accuracy of rather bizarre allegations contained in his film, where one particular nun is depicted as being constantly cruel, when subsequently I am reading in the newspapers statements from people in the care of the same nun as children, testifying to her kindness. This poses the question whom should I believe?
We learn from the film that Christine passed her Leaving Cert exam while still at Goldenbridge Industrial School ("orphanage is Mr Lent in's misnomer) and then became a nurse. Mr Lentin, as selective as in the making of the film, did not quote the part of my letter pointing out that the nuns got no credit for their part in this.
It can be deduced from the meagre details that Christine was educated efficiently by the nuns until probably 17 or 18 years old, and must have been allowed time for study. She was physically in good health a requirement for nursing. She became a nurse through the efforts of the nuns to have her accepted for this, at the time, much sought after career.
As a married man with children in the 1950/1960s, I know secondary school fees were payable each term and many children could not attend because of this cost, plus the cost of books and uniforms. A fee was payable to enter nursing, and a costly list of items had to be purchased before starting. All these expenses would have been borne by the nuns. Would these actions not cast doubt on allegations of cruelty? None of this was dealt with in the film. Yours, etc.. The Kybe, Skerries, Co Dublin.
