IRELAND
Galway Advertiser
BY MARTINA NEE Galway Advertiser, Thu, Jun 12, 2014
A statutory inquiry into all mother and baby homes must have “full powers” to compel witnesses and secure documentary evidence, particularly against religious orders, that is according to Justice for the Tuam Babies.
The comments were made following the announcement on Tuesday by the Minister of Children, Charlie Flanagan, that the cabinet has agreed to set up a Commission of Investigation into all mother and baby homes. Cautiously welcoming the decision, Justice for the Tuam Babies spokesperson Gary Daly vowed that until the Government releases the terms of reference of this inquiry the campaign group will continue to “press for a full inquiry into the neglect suffered by the children and mothers in all these homes, including medical testing” and that the inquiry must have full powers which are enforceable against the religious orders that operated those homes on behalf of the State.The Justice for the Tuam Babies and its supporters marched from the Department of Children to the gates of the Dáil last night. A candlelight vigil was held to remember the 796 infants believed to have died at the Tuam home, run by the Sisters of the Bon Secours, between 1925 and 1961.
While the Dublin march took place, Galway Pro-Choice also held a vigil at the children’s playground in Eyre Square at 7pm last night and which was supported by John Rodgers, a survivor of the Tuam home. According to Rachel Donnelly, Galway Pro-Choice is demanding sincere apologies from the Catholic Church and the Irish State which “must include a concrete agenda of action on criminal investigations and independent inquiries, compensation, and redress for mothers and survivors, plus any commemorations”. She added that Ireland must learn from its past and that there must be a “separation of Church and State, above all in our health system”.
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