Institution survivors’ memorial centre ‘not due to open for decade’
THE planned National Centre for Research and Remembrance of survivors of institutions may not open for at least another 10 years, a leading campaigner has said.
The warning comes in the wake of the controversial decision by Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman to backtrack on a promise to independently review testimonies given to the report by the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes.
The Commission’s report, published last year, was widely criticised by survivors. Many claimed their stories were misrepresented, not fully told or amalgamated with other cases, which heaped more hurt on them.
In response, Minister O’Gorman promised in June 2021 to bring a memo to the Cabinet to appoint a legal expert to review the testimonies. However, earlier this week his department admitted this review will now not go ahead, prompting further criticism from survivors.
The decision was also criticised by Mr O’Gorman’s Green Party colleague Neasa Hourigan, who said: ‘I had been hoping there were more reasons forthcoming on the decision by the Department of Children and Equality not to undertake an independent legal inquiry into mother and baby homes. There doesn’t seem to be and I think the decision is a mistake. Have we recorded the truth fully yet? I honestly think not.
‘Those questions are not just about mother and baby homes themselves but also the commission and report. This is still relevant.
‘Some of the groups involved in this operate in Ireland today. Indeed we know the State colluded with essentially private bodies in bringing about this system.’
A spokesperson for Mr O’Gorman declined to comment on why the minister’s memo was abandoned, or whose decision it was, when contacted by the MoS this weekend.
Instead of the promised review, Mr O’Gorman said survivors will be able to have their testimonies to the committee used in the planned National Centre for Research and Remembrance, to be located at the former Magdalene laundry on Seán McDermott Street in Dublin’s north inner city.
However, Dr Katherine O’Donnell, associate professor at the school of philosophy in UCD and a prominent campaigner on behalf of survivors, believes the site may not open for another 10 years.
And she said that even when it does, survivors have still not given their consent to have their testimonies displayed or even archived there.
‘What consent did survivors ever give for their testimonies to be used in this way?’ she asked.
‘It’s a joke. The department didn’t even ask them [the survivors] before making this announcement. It’s yet another example of the lack of respect for these people.
‘The minister just assumes that survivors will be happy to have their stories put on display at this centre. I think he’ll find [their response] different. And what archivist would touch testimonies of people without knowing what consent they had given?
‘There were no letters of consent. And even if there were, I think it would be a miracle if the place was open in 10 years’ time.
‘Nothing has moved on it at all.’
The development of a memorial centre was promised by the Government as part of the action plan it devised following the publication of the final report of the Commission of Investigation in January last year.
As ‘a site of national conscience’, the National Centre for Research and Remembrance will comprise:
■ A museum and exhibition space, development of which will be led by the National Museum of Ireland;
■ A research centre and repository of records related to institutional trauma in the 20th Century which will form part
of the National Archives;
A place for ‘reflection and remembrance’.
During the summer, Dublin city councillors voted for the derelict site at Seán McDermott Street to be handed over to the Office of Public Works as the first stage of planning for the new centre.
However, a budget has yet to be agreed or plans drawn up for the project. The OPW will also need to seek planning permission for the complex project.
Architect Denise Murray is a member of the Open Heart City, a voluntary group which will advise on the new centre, and she agrees it could be years before the centre is open.
Rather than proceeding with ‘a big new purpose-built space’, she said the OPW should consider starting with a smaller offering.
Ms Murray told the MoS: ‘I believe the State should give serious consideration to refurbishing the existing buildings as soon as possible and using them as part of the development of the long-term project for the site as a national site of conscience.’
When asked for a progress update on the centre, a spokesperson for the Department of Children said it ‘is under way to progress the initial planning and development stages of the National Centre’.
They added: ‘A steering group, chaired by the former secretary general to the Government and Ambassador to the UK, is driving this work.
‘A number of work streams are in development, spanning various technical aspects, as well as a process for engagement with survivors and with the local community in Dublin’s northeast inner city. This will ensure that the development of the National Centre is directly informed by those most centrally involved, their families and representatives.
‘A definitive timeline for the completion of the National Centre is not yet available, however an indicative timeline of approximately five years has been provided by the steering group.
‘It is anticipated that initial maintenance and structural work will commence on site before year
end.’
‘Another example of the lack of respect’