NI mother and baby home report due in a fortnight
A REPORT into abuse in mother and baby homes in Northern Ireland is expected before the end of the month.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’neill gave an update yesterday on an inter-departmental working group on mother and baby homes, Magdalene laundries and historical clerical child abuse.
Speaking at a Stormont briefing alongside First Minister Arlene Foster, Ms O’neill said:
“I have to say that the report published in the south this week is truly harrowing and the brutal, inhumane treatment of the women and children who endured the mother and baby homes was laid bare for us all to see.”
She said women and children across the island of Ireland were “failed” by those charged with protecting them.
“It’s a sad indictment on state, on church, on society that this was the case,” she said.
“So let us say to all of you who have suffered: we see you and we hear you. Myself and Arlene will meet with (Irish Minister for Children) Roderic O’gorman next week to discuss these issues and we’re expecting that the work of the working group into the institutions in the north will be received before the end of the month.”
She added that while the Executive could never make up for the wrongs of the past, victims and survivors should expect to get the acknowledgement and support they need without delay.
Meanwhile, it was warned yesterday that he number of women who went through mother and baby homes in Northern Ireland may be “significantly” higher than previously estimated.
Judith Gillespie, chairwoman of the inter-departmental working group on mother and baby homes, indicated the total will be more than 7,500, but stressed a recently completed research report should be seen first by the victims and survivors.
Amnesty International said in addition to the numbers who went through mother and baby homes, thousands more experienced Magdalene Laundries and other women-specific institutions.
Spokesman Patrick Corrigan said he has “no doubt” the total figure that will emerge will be “significantly greater” than 7,500.
The last such institution closed in 1990.
The homes were run across Northern Ireland by both Catholic and Protestant clergy.