Probe into Mother and Baby Homes Extended from 1920s to 1998

By Eilish O’Regan
Irish Independent
January 9, 2015

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/probe-into-mother-and-baby-homes-extended-from-1920s-to-1998-30895073.html

The Commission of investigation into Mother and Baby homes will extend its probe from the 1920s to as late as 1998, it emerged today

The terms of reference, announced by Minister for Children James Reilly, also include powers to examine illegal adoptions.

Minister for Children James Reilly

The probe, chaired by Judge Yvonne Murphy, will mostly hear evidence in private although individuals can also request to have a hearing in public.

The investigation will not only look at the care of unmarried mothers and their children in the homes but also high mortality rates and vaccine trials which were carried out in some instances.

The Minister who expects the inquiry to take three years said today:”As a State we have failed to come to terms with a harrowing reality of our pa, the manner in which single women and their children were treated in mother and baby homes and how they came to be there in the first place.”

The Church-run homes that catered for unmarried mothers and their children have been at the centre of allegations of mistreatment, neglect and questionable adoption practice.

Several groups, particularly those in Protestant-run homes, are expected to be disappointed at the extent of the investigation which will be headed by Judge Yvonne Murphy.

It is expected that at least nine institutions will be included. They are Ard Mhuire, Dunboyne, Meath; Bessboro in Cork; Manor House, Castlepollard, Co Westmeath; Sean Ross Abbey, Roscrea, Co Tipperary and Bethany Home, Dublin. Also included are Pelletstown/ St Patrick's; Tuam home in Galway; Kilrush home in Clare and St Gerard's in Dublin.

The investigation was promised after shock revelations that 800 children died at the mother and baby home in Tuam in Galway from the 1920s to the early 1960s.

Their mass grave was discovered 40 years ago, but it was not until last year that local historian Catherine Corless drew attention to the very high infant death rate - with almost 80pc dying before their first birthday. The home was run by the Bon Secours Sisters for 36 years.

Central to the terms of the commission will be confidentiality surrounding personal sensitive information, particularly for women who want to ensure their past remains private.

An inter-departmental group which carried out a preliminary examination earlier this year found babies who were born illegitimate were nearly four times more likely to die than those whose mothers were married up to 1950.