State apology is hard to accept without access to records, say mother and baby home survivors

Carmel Larkin, a survivor of Tuam mother and baby home, at her home in Tuam listening to Micheál Martin's apology to the victims of the homes. Picture: Ray Ryan

Mother and baby home survivors say yesterday's State apology is hard to accept without access to their personal records.
On the day of the State apology to the women and children who were institutionalised and abused in the homes, the Government was accused of "failing to listen" to survivors, who in many cases still cannot access their original birth certificates.

It also emerged yesterday that many survivors have not seen the full report because printed copies were not distributed by the Government and many were not able to access the online version due to age or other factors.