NWCI calls for a fully independent judicial inquiry into abusive practices in Mother and Baby Homes

Published: Monday, June 09, 2014

National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) today called on the government to initiate a fully independent judicial inquiry into the care system in mother and baby homes, the extremely high infant mortality rates and the burial of children in unmarked graves. The inquiry must involve the abusive practices of the religious orders and the failure of the State in its duty of care.

Rachel Doyle, Head of Development and Outreach at NWCI said,
“The horrific news of the deaths of almost 800 children at the Bon Secours Sisters institution in Tuam, Galway has focused the spotlight on the practices of all mother and baby homes, including Bethany Home, in Dublin. The abusive practices in the Bon Secours Sisters mother and baby home were not unique to one institution, but were replicated across the State. We know of 221 children from Bethany Home, buried in unmarked graves in Mount Jerome cemetery, 77 of whom died over a three year period.” 

Rachel Doyle continued,
“NWCI have been working to highlight these abusive practices for a number of years now, and have long campaigned for justice for Bethany Home survivors through media work and raising our concerns at political level. It is important that a full investigation establish the facts, and that we work to insure women and children are never treated this way again. This means examining the manner in which the inhumane and degrading direct provision system is impacting on health and wellbeing of women as mothers and carers to their children.”

Rachel Doyle concluded,
“There are a multitude of questions around the practices in mother and baby homes that demand urgent answers; questions around an abusive care regime, the high infant mortality rates, mass burial of children in unmarked graves, illegal adoption practices and medical testing on children and babies. The government must stop looking the other way and finally initiate a fully independent judicial inquiry. Survivors of these homes, including Bethany Home, must receive an immediate apology from the State for its failure to protect them as children.  In addition they must be afforded clear access to their records and an appropriate redress scheme.”

For more information: please contact Sarah Clarkin, Communications Officer, National Women’s Council of Ireland, Tel. 085 858 9104.