Letter to the Editor: ‘Homes’ were far from a refuge for mothers

Archbishop Eamonn Martin. Too defensive?

In no way can mother and baby facilities be considered ‘homes’. Even as a child I was aware of the cruel conditions. I think my parents probably were but, like most, were so conditioned that they thought the Church and its agents could do no wrong.

I cannot help contrasting the fact that thousands of our own babies were allowed to die by neglect and cruelty with the fact that almost every primary school child in the country was almost compelled to bring pennies for the black babies.