Survivor pleads for halt to plan to build over babies’ graves
SURVIVORS of Bessborough Mother and Baby Home are set to launch a legal challenge against plans to build on the site.
More than 900 babies are buried on the grounds of the notorious institution which was run by the Sacred Heart nuns.
Developers have lodged plans for a strategic housing development at the Cork site – but survivors fear the final resting place of their babies will be lost forever.
Cork Survivors and Supporters Alliance has lodged an objection with both Cork City Council and An Bord Pleanala.
It advises of its intention to seek a judicial review in the High Court to prevent the children’s burial ground from being bulldozed.
The objection points to an Ordnance Survey Map which clearly marks the location of the children’s burial ground – where two new apartment blocks are proposed.
It states: “The CSSA’S membership includes more than 50 family members of children who died while resident at Bessborough, and whose burial location is not recorded.
“Many of these children were buried within the grounds of Bessborough in unmarked graves.”
It proposes a number of “modest” objectives including that no building or works take place at the Children’s
Burial Ground and those grounds be recognised and maintained.
The objection adds: “The CSSA submits that an oral hearing is necessary in respect of the within planning application, having regard to the special circumstances involved.”
Survivor Ann O’gorman, who gave birth twice at Bessborough, has been searching for the grave of her dead daughter Evelyn for decades. The 67-year-old, who is now gravely ill, gave birth to her first child in 1971 at the age of 17.
She passed out from complications at the birth and when she came to nuns told her the infant had died.
Ann was given a death certificate and later told by other residents that an orange crate containing a bundle was passed out the window to the caretaker.
She told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “This week has been horrendous and I cried for three days straight. But in some small way the truth is out there now.
“I want to see the grounds marked and protected at Bessborough.
“That would put my mind at rest to know all the other mothers and all the little angels were protected.”
Children’s Minister Roderic O’gorman has indicated to survivors his intention to object to the planning application.
It is understood that Taoiseach Micheal Martin is also concerned at the move.