Mother and baby home survivors 'should get legal and psychological help before garda call'

Maureen Considine and Catherine Coffey-Brien of the Cork Survivors and Supporters Alliance laying flowers near the Folly at Bessborough. Ms Considine said: "We would urge anyone considering coming forward now, to discuss it first with a solicitor but also with a psychologist, because many members have felt like they were left in a ‘psychological wasteland’ after being questioned on these issues previously." Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Campaigners have urged survivors of mother and baby homes to seek legal and psychological advice before making any complaint to gardaí in relation to their pregnancy or their time in one of the institutions.

They have also urged gardaí to open a separate investigation into the practice of unregistered burials at mother and baby homes, where in the case of Bessborough alone, the burial place of the majority of the 923 children who died there over the years is unknown.