Lord Mayor greets German charity group at the gates of Cork's Bessborough

The Lord Mayor of Cork, councillor Fergal Dennehy, has welcomed to Cork a group of 20 members of the German charity Sportler 4 A Children’s World.

Mr Dennehy met them at the gates of the former Bessborough mother and baby institute.

Led by Scottish children’s rights campaigner John McGurk, the group is travelling through six nations to raise funds for charity.

The group delivered a wreath honouring the 923 infants known to have died at Bessborough or after discharge from there.

Mr Dennehy noted that the charity has raised millions to help vulnerable children over the years.

“John’s presence highlights the significant issues we have with Bessborough,” Mr Dennehy said.

In February, Cork City Council’s planning department granted permission for the building of 140 apartments on the site, a decision which is currently being appealed.

In 2021, the Mother and Baby Homes Commission reported 923 child deaths relating to Bessborough.

With burial records existing for only 64 of those children, the commission concluded it was “highly likely” that some were buried on the grounds of the institute.