Enemies of the State

For over 20 years Kathy Sinnott and Jamie Sinnott lived in a world of pain, bewilderment, courage and perseverance. This documentary - Enemies of the State - tells their stories.

Kathy, a personification of mother courage describes her life in two phases 'BJ' and 'AJ' - 'before Jamie' and 'after Jamie'.

Jamie was only 3 months old when he first began to exhibit symptoms of autism.

For twenty-four years, Kathy campaigned to ensure that no more young people would ever have to "share the
scrap heap with Jamie" and like him, arrive at eighteen, uneducated.

She struggled to persuade the health and education authorities to recognise autism and provide appropriate education and training for those with it.

She evoked the country's admiration because she did so - in the words of the High Court - "in the face of official indifference and persistent procrastination".

Despite the many setbacks she had on the way, she remained defiant and determined to continue her battle for educational rights for the disabled whatever their age. Kathy believes that by their actions, the Government views children with autism as 'enemies of the state".

The landmark High Court judgement in 2000 which allowed Jamie access to the education he was denied throughout his childhood was reversed by the Supreme Court in 2001. The funding for Jamie's current education system runs out in a year's time. In
the long-term one question lurks ominously 'what will happen when Kathy is no longer there to look after Jamie?'

"Apart from telling Kathy's story the programme raises many troubling and uncomfortable questions about the type of society we live in", says producer John Scally.

"Enemies of the State" was first broadcst on 12th June 2002.

Produced by John Scally.

An Irish radio documentary from RTÉ Radio 1, Ireland - Documentary on One - the home of Irish radio documentaries