Martin puts pressure on Coalition

An independent commission of investigation must be set up into deaths at religious-run mother-and-baby homes, should examine claims of illegal adoptions at the facilities, and needs to be completely independent of Church and State.

Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin issued the call for action — which goes far further than existing Government plans for an inter-departmental “review” of already available files — after a week of revelations surrounding the deaths of 796 children in Tuam between 1925 and 1961.

Speaking on RTÉ radio yesterday, the senior Catholic Church official said any commission must be given “full judicial powers” and involve the gardaí so individuals can be compelled to provide all records.