After 35 years of hurt and trauma, the travesty inflicted on Joanne Hayes and her family was finally brought to an end.
The apology over the Kerry Babies affair took less than a minute to read – and Ms Hayes was not present in the High Court to hear it, wishing to preserve her privacy.
But in a statement issued afterwards, the woman who was wrongfully accused of murdering her own baby expressed relief that the “suffering and stress of this ordeal” was finally behind her and her family.
She also asked that their privacy be respected so they could “return to our lives within our local community in peace”.
After 36 years State finally apologises to Joanne Hayes and family over Kerry Babies case
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The Irish State has apologised to Joanne Hayes, the woman who was wrongly accused of murdering an infant over 35 years ago, and her siblings over their treatment during events that became known as the Kerry Babies case.
The apology, made before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds at the High Court on Friday and reiterated one made in 2018, forms part of a settlement of damages actions brought by Ms Hayes, her sister Kathleen and brothers Michael and Edmund following their arrest by the Gardai in May 1984.
The State has apologised to Joanne Hayes, the woman who was wrongly accused of murdering an infant over 35 years ago, and her siblings over their treatment during events that became known as the Kerry Babies case.
The apology, made before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds at the High Court on Friday and reiterated one made in 2018, forms part of a settlement of damages actions brought by Ms Hayes, her sister Kathleen and brothers Michael and Edmund following their arrest by the Gardai in May 1984.
Conleth Bradley SC for the State said it wished to express its deep regret over the hurt and stress caused to the Hayes family.
The State has apologised to Joanne Hayes, the woman who was wrongly accused of murdering an infant over 35 years ago, and her siblings over their treatment during events that became known as the Kerry Babies case.
The apology, made before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds at the High Court on Friday and reiterated one made in 2018, forms part of a settlement of damages actions brought by Ms Hayes, her sister Kathleen and brothers Michael and Edmund following their arrest by the Gardai in May 1984.
Conleth Bradley, senior counsel for the State said it wished to express its “deep and sincere regret” over “the hurt and stress” caused to the entire Hayes family who are from Abbeydorney.
RTÉ Courts Reporter
Joanne Hayes, the woman wrongly accused of murdering a baby over 35 years ago, and her siblings have received an apology from the Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice.
They have also received declarations that all findings of wrongdoing made against them by the Kerry Babies Tribunal were unfounded and incorrect.
The apology forms part of a settlement of a case for damages brought by Ms Hayes, her sister Kathleen and brothers Michael and Edmund following their arrest by gardaí in May, 1984.
Conleth Bradley SC for the State said he had been asked by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee to express their deep and sincere regret for the truly appalling hurt and distress caused to Ms Hayes and family .