Move to open sealed Bessborough burial documents

The Government will apply to the High Court to unseal technical documents relating to burials at Bessborough, where the burial records of hundreds of children and women remain missing

Between 1922 and 1998, Bessborough operated as the largest mother and baby institution in the country. File picture: Denis Scannell

Children’s minister Norma Foley on Tuesday secured Cabinet approval to make a High Court application to unseal technical archaeological reports at the former Bessborough mother and baby institution.

The application will be made to search for and publish technical documents related to burials on the Cork site.

Between 1922 and 1998, Bessborough operated as the largest mother and baby institution in the country.

Originally a 210-acre site, all but 60 acres of Bessborough have been developed over the decades.

During its 76-year history, a total of 9,768 mothers and 8,938 children were admitted to Bessborough. Records show 31 maternal deaths were associated with the mother and baby institution, while 923 children were reported to have died in its care.

The burial records for 859 children and 19 women are missing, and in 2021 the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes concluded that it was “highly likely” that some of them had been buried on what was then a 210-acre site.

All but 60 acres of Bessborough have since been developed.

In July, An Coimisúin Pleanála substantially upheld the granting of planning permission to Estuary View Enterprises 2020, clearing the way for the building of 106 apartments at Bessborough.

In mid-July, more than 1,200 people braved sweltering city centre temperatures to protest against the planned development, and Taoiseach Micheál Martin called on Cork City Council to engage with the owners of the lands to “explore all options for the future of the site”.

The decision to seek the unsealing of the Bessborough burial records, held within the archive of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, comes after widespread calls from campaigners and survivors, as well as Cork City Council, for their release.

'A missed opportunity'

Carmel Cantwell of the Bessborough Mother and Baby Home Support Group, said she welcomed what she said was “a positive action by Norma Foley” but expressed some disappointment that the application would not be wider in scope.

“It is a missed opportunity not to seek the release the witness statements made to the commission about burials which witnesses said they saw take place on the north side of the property,” she said.

“Those witness testimonies are a vital part of the Bessborough narrative and they could have been anonymised.” Labour senator Laura Harmon was one of those who welcomed the decision.

“Survivors and families have waited far too long for answers about Bessborough,” she said.

“The minister should set out a clear timeline for how she will be proceeding with this. Survivors need clear information about what today’s announcement means for them. 

“Survivors and the Bessborough Mother and Baby Home Campaign group must also have a meaningful role in decisions about the future of this site. Their knowledge and experience must shape those decisions from the outset.”