NI Mother and baby home numbers could be ‘significantly higher’ than thought

Childrens socks at the grotto on an unmarked mass grave at the site of the Tuam Mother and Baby Home run by the Bon Secours sister (Niall Carson/PA)

The number of women who went through mother and baby homes in Northern Ireland is expected to be “significantly” higher than previously estimated.

Judith Gillespie, chairwoman of the inter-departmental working group on mother and baby homes, indicated the total will be more than 7,500, but stressed a recently completed research report should be seen first by the victims and survivors.