State's failure to tackle human trafficking akin to accepting 'concreting over burial remains in Bessborough'

The outgoing UN special rapporteur on human trafficking Siobhán Mullally, professor in human rights law and director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights at University of Galway. Picture: University of Galway

Ireland’s lack of urgency in tackling human trafficking is part of the same attitude that saw the State allow illegal adoptions and the potential concreting of burial grounds at Bessborough, according to the UN special rapporteur on human trafficking.

Speaking at an event in Cork to mark World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Siobhán Mullally highlighted a reluctance to tackle human trafficking despite international legal obligations being in place from the early part of the 20th century.