Cork TDs sign letter to Martin seeking purchase of Bessborough site

Nine of Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s 10 Cork city Oireachtas colleagues have written to him asking that the Government buy the 60-acre grounds of the former Bessborough mother and baby institution in Blackrock.

Three Government TDs, two of them from Mr Martin’s party, signed the letter.

Their intervention comes after An Coimisiún Pleanála last week cleared the way for the building of 106 apartments on the site, despite concerns that hundreds of missing children may be buried there.

In their letter, the Oireachtas members requested that the Government seek to buy the site “either through a negotiated acquisition, or failing that, through CPO [compulsory purchase order], if necessary”. 

It asked Mr Martin to meet with representatives of the Bessborough campaigners, and requested the Government agree with city councillors’ proposal that the land become a site of national conscience.

There are 10 TDs across the two Cork city constituencies, five in Cork North Central, and five in Cork South Central, including Mr Martin, as well as Labour senator Laura Harmon.

The letter is signed by Fianna Fáil TDs Pádraig O’Sullivan and Séamus McGrath, and Fine Gael TD and former junior minister Colm Burke.

Opposition signatories include Sinn Féin TDs Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire and Thomas Gould, Labour TD Eoghan Kenny and Ms Harmon, Independent Ireland’s Ken O’Flynn, and the Social Democrats’ Pádraig Rice.

The other Cork City TD, Fine Gael’s Jerry Buttimer, is a junior minister. He said he felt it more appropriate to make his case directly through Government, and had spoken extensively with the Taoiseach and Tánaiste.

Mr Ó Laoghaire, who organised the letter, said it was a cross-party effort which recognised the depth of feeling around the issue.

“What could potentially happen at Bessborough is profoundly wrong, and would heap further pain and trauma upon survivors,” he said.

“In our view, the State should acquire the site, voluntarily, if possible, but, if necessary, by compulsory purchase order, and the lands should become a site of national conscience.”

The Sacred Heart Sisters ran Bessborough from 1922 to 1998, and 923 known infant deaths occurred in their care. They did not keep burial records for 859 of those children.

The Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation concluded in 2021 that it was “highly likely” some of the missing children were buried on the grounds. Also missing are the bodies of 19 women who died there.

Of the original 200 acres in the Bessborough estate, 60 remain undeveloped.

In June 2022, Cork city councillors voted to rezone the remaining Bessborough lands for residential development.