HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS
We suffered abuse, neglect, assault & false imprisonment and now we’re suing State and the orders for...
The Irish Sunday Mirror has learned a top law firm has put together a team of six barristers to begin a series of High Court battles.
Earlier this week Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone apologised for the latest delay in the work of a commission of investigation probing the institutions.
But spokesman for Irish First Mothers Fintan Dunne said the latest “kick in the teeth” was the last straw and survivors will now take a legal route.
He told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “It’s a pity the millions spent on this so far weren’t put towards addressing the real, immediate needs of those affected.
“It is a mechanism for evading redress. They’ve had two extensions to the working report which was supposed to take 18 months and took three years.
“We’ve had four interim reports now and nothing coming out of it.”
He added the commission’s workload and resources meant it was unlikely to see a final report before 2021.
And he asked how no findings of culpability had been made with more than 500 witnesses already interviewed.
Members of the First Mothers group met recently with Coleman Legal Partners, the Dublin-based firm which was involved in Army deafness claims.
The Irish Sunday Mirror understands the company is willing to lodge mass individual actions on behalf of survivors without seeking any payment up front.
Mr Dunne said: “The only thing holding everyone back is as an individual you’re talking €10,000 before you even get to court. That has put people off.
“This is about as close as you can get in Ireland to a class action. It’s not allowed under Irish law as with US law but this is as close to it as you can get.
“Claims will include negligence, psychological abuse, false imprisonment, assault, breaches of human rights law and genealogical bewilderment – in other words not knowing who the hell you are or where you came from.”
Last year Irish First Mothers accused the commission of inquiry, led by Judge Yvonne Murphy, of misleading survivors who wanted to give sworn testimony.
Rosemarie Adie, whose daughter was taken from her minutes after she gave birth aged 18, said she was one of many denied a chance to speak to the judge.
Reacting to the new delay, she said: “I have a letter from Fintan Dunne of the Irish First Mothers group the commission saying we haven’t come forward with enough information.
“I wrote to Judge Murphy and asked to go in front of her. I got a letter back saying there was no need. It’s more of the same. People are fed up and tired.”
Lawyer Norman Spicer, of Coleman Legal Partners, said: “We are currently progressing a number of sample claims in the High Court and proceedings have been issued in these matters. “We are also working closely with several groups in the community and many individuals to try and bring about a remedy for these people via the judicial process.” The commission was set up in 2015 at a cost of €23million after the bodies of 796 babies were found in septic tanks behind the Tuam home run by nuns.
A final report was due last year but a one-year extension was sought. Despite a public outcry a second one-year extension was granted earlier this week.
A report is due in March on burial arrangements at “major institutions” including Sean Ross Abbey and Bessborough Mother And Baby Home.
The investigation of illegal adoptions at St Patrick’s Guild in Dublin has also been referred to the commission which will open new lines of inquiry.
Sandra Schroeder-pierce, whose son was given up for adoption when she was 17 at the Good Shepard home in Meath, said: “First Mothers group are actively guiding members through the legal steps to place cases before the court.
“As Ireland’s largest group of women who were in institutions for unwed mothers, we have lost confidence in Minister Zappone, in Judge Murphy and in the current justice process.
“The Government has left us with no other option but to pursue justice