Order had refused to transfer vaccine files

The order which ran the mother-and-baby home in Bessborough in Cork initially refused to transfer files relating to controversial vaccine trials to the HSE.

The Irish Examiner revealed in 2011 that, as the former adoption agency operated by the Sacred Heart Sisters had not applied for accreditation, and was not compelled to do so under the Adoption Act, its files would remain the private property of the order and could not be inspected by the Adoption Authority.

While the order did later agree to transfer around 25,000 files to the HSE, in a letter sent to one of the victims of the trials, Maureen Downey Hickey, who was later adopted to the US, the HSE stated it had “been advised that immunisation records will continue to be the responsibility of the order”.