Have you ever done this? Listening to the car radio while driving, you arrive at your destination, but the radio programme is so compelling you simply have to sit and wait for it to finish.

Last Friday I listened to The Lost Souls of Irelandon BBC Radio 4. Absolutely mesmerising story about the horrorific abuse and suffering of children placed in the Catholic Church of Ireland’s institutional schools. I’ll not forget quickly the story related by Cathy Spillane about her 70-year-old father.  The first question the Irish investigating authorities asked of her father was, ”at which institution were you at?”. Her father broke down in tears and could not continue, and only returned to the investigators a day later.

One abused woman said that damaged people were incapable of creating a loving family of their own, and so the effects of the abuse pass on to the next generation. A truly powerful programme that was troubling to listen to, though really important to hear.