Mary McAleese speaks out about ‘state of terror’ that children faced in schools in the past [Video]

FORMER PRESIDENT OF Ireland Mary McAleese has spoken out about the “state of terror” facing children due to the historic use of corporal punishment in Irish schools, following devoted coverage to the issue by Joe Duffy’s radio show.

She revealed she had faced poor treatment herself during her schooldays at the hands of “violent” and “explosive” headmistresses.

On RTÉ Radio One’s Liveline today, McAleese spoke to presenter Joe Duffy about the use of corporal punishment in Irish schools.

For two weeks now Liveline has heard harrowing testimony from many victims of physical beatings in Irish schools over decades until corporal punishment was banned in 1982.

The programmes were spurred by the release of the Scoping Inquiry report earlier this month, outlining more than 2,000 historical allegations of child sexual abuse.

McAleese said the details of violence faced by schoolchildren was “heartbreaking” to hear.

The Belfast native further questioned why the …