Bessborough survivors say they intend to appeal apartments plans for site

Survivors of the former Bessborough mother and baby institution say they intend to appeal a decision to grant permission for 140 apartments on what they say should be “a site of national conscience”.

Cork City Council this week granted planning to Estuary View Enterprises 2020, despite several previous planning refusals and concerns that the site may contain the unmarked graves of hundreds of children.

Between 1922 and 1998, the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary ran Bessborough as a mother and baby institution, during which time a total of 9,768 mothers and 8,938 babies were admitted.

In 2021, the Mother and Baby Homes Commission found that 923 children died at Bessborough, or after being transferred from there, but burial records exist for only 64 of those children.

In previous rulings against applications relating to the former Bessborough estate, An Bord Pleanála, now An Coimisiún Pleanála, said the potential existed there for the presence of human remains and/or burials.

Saddened

Carmel Cantwell of the Bessborough Mother and Baby Home Support Group said the 700-strong group intends to appeal the decision.

“We were very saddened that planning was granted, and we are definitely going to appeal, because we feel there has been an injustice,” she said.

“I really believe that this should be a site of national conscience — the whole estate caused so much hurt, so much trauma, it’s in the land, you can feel it when you go in there.”

Ms Cantwell said there was nothing on the site to memorialise the children who died in Bessborough, or the mothers who suffered in the institution.

“It’s not just the deaths, horrific though they were, it’s the trauma of forced adoption,” she said.

“There were nearly 19,000 women and children who passed through Bessborough, and their loss is immeasurable.

“They should be remembered,” added Ms Cantwell.

Labour Party city councillor Peter Horgan said that the decision had to be appealed.

“I think it’s just wrong that we are seeking to build on this site when we just don’t know where the burials are,” he said.