Leading human rights lawyer joins calls for Government to purchase Bessborough lands

Maeve O’Rourke said it was 'just not acceptable' campaigners had such a short deadline for bringing a judicial review into An Coimisiún Pleanála's decision to uphold planning permission for building apartments on the site

A demonstration in Cork City last month, where some 1,000 people gathered to protest against the planned development of part of the former Bessborough Mother and Baby Home site. Picture: Chani Anderson 

A leading human rights lawyer has joined calls for the Government to compulsorily purchase the grounds of the former Bessborough mother and baby institution in Cork.

Last month, Taoiseach Micheál Martin intervened to ask Cork City Council to engage with the owners of the 60-acre site after An Coimisiún Pleanála upheld planning permission for the building of 106 apartments there.