Bessborough survivors 'traumatised all over again' by apartment plans  

Bessborough survivors have been re-traumatised by plans to build apartments on the site of a former Cork mother and baby institution, a cross-party group of Oireachtas members and city councillors heard yesterday at Cork City Hall.

The elected representatives had gathered to show their opposition to the decision by Cork City Council to grant planning for the development of apartments at Bessborough in Blackrock.

That decision was substantially upheld last week by An Coimisiún Pleanála, clearing the way for Estuary View Enterprises to build 106 homes on the site of the former mother and baby institution.

Bessborough was run as a mother and baby institution by the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary between 1922 and 1998.

Of 923 Bessborough infant deaths, burial records exist for only 64.

In 2021, the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation concluded it was “highly likely” that some of the missing 859 children were buried on the institution’s grounds.

Memory must not be desecrated

Joy Kelly O’Regan was born in Bessborough in the 1970s, and she said she will not rest until the development of the grounds is stopped.

“Those babies are buried in the ground of Bessborough, and their memory must not be desecrated by the building of apartments on their bones. Survivors have been traumatised all over again by this decision,” she said.

“I would say to the Taoiseach, please, Mr Martin, do the right thing and order a CPO (compulsory purchase order).”

Labour Party senator Laura Harmon, who had organised the gathering with her colleague Peter Horgan, said the State must intervene to acquire the land or to compulsorily purchase it.

“This site should be in public ownership.

“Survivors and their families deserve justice,” she said.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, Sinn Féin TD for Cork South Central, said most public representatives and survivors agreed that the Government needed to take the Bessborough grounds into public ownership.

“Government has been saying all along they had to wait until we have the planning decision, they have the planning decision now,” he said.

“We simply cannot have the building of apartments on what is potentially a burial site.”

Government should purchase site

Séamus McGrath, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South Central, said he believed the State should purchase the site.

“I would hope that could be achieved through a negotiated settlement, but if that proves impossible, I believe we have to keep the idea of a CPO alive,” he said.

“After that, we need to think about how best we can honour those who have died.”

A further rally against the proposed development is planned for 2.30pm on Saturday at Cork City Library.