Minister secures approval for High Court bid to unseal Bessborough documents

Children’s minister Norma Foley yesterday secured Cabinet approval to make a High Court application to unseal technical archaeological reports on burials at the former Bessborough mother and baby institution.

Between 1922 and 1998, Bessborough operated as the largest mother and baby institution in the country.

During its 76-year history, a total of 9,768 mothers and 8,938 children were admitted to Bessborough. Records show 31 maternal deaths were associated with the mother and baby institution, while 923 children were reported to have died in its care.

Originally a 210-acre site, all but 60 acres of Bessborough have been developed over the decades.

The burial records for 859 children and 19 women are missing, and in 2021 the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes concluded that it was “highly likely” that some of them had been buried on the site.

In July, An Coimisúin Pleanála substantially upheld the granting of planning permission to Estuary View Enterprises 2020, clearing the way for the building of 106 apartments at Bessborough.

Explore all options for site

In mid-July, more than 1,200 people braved sweltering city centre temperatures to protest against the planned development, and Taoiseach Micheál Martin called on Cork City Council to engage with the owners of the lands to “explore all options for the future of the site”.

The decision to seek the unsealing of the Bessborough burial records, held within the archive of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, comes after widespread calls from campaigners and survivors, as well as Cork City Council, for their release.

Carmel Cantwell of the Bessborough Mother and Baby Home Support Group said she welcomed “a positive action by Norma Foley” but expressed some disappointment that the application would not be wider in scope.

Missed opportunity

“It is a missed opportunity not to seek the release of the witness statements made to the commission about burials which witnesses said they saw take place on the north side of the property,” Ms Cantwell told The Echo.

“Those witness testimonies are a vital part of the Bessborough narrative and they could have been anonymised.”

Labour senator Laura Harmon was one of those who welcomed the decision.

“Survivors and families have waited far too long for answers about Bessborough,” she said.

“The minister should set out a clear timeline for how she will be proceeding with this. Survivors need clear information about what today’s announcement means for them.

“Survivors and campaigners must also have a meaningful role in decisions about the future of this site.”

Ms Harmon added that her party colleague, Labour Party councillor Peter Horgan, had carried out “sustained campaigning” on the issue, and had been instrumental in keeping pressure on the Government.