The redoubtable public servant who first raised concerns about the mother and baby homes
Alice Litster was praised for her work that shined “a light on the failings of these institutions”. By Gráinne Ní Aodha Thursday 14 Jan 2021, 6:30 AM Jan 14th 2021, 6:30 AM 30,263 Views 17 Comments
Children s socks at the grotto on an unmarked mass grave at the site of the Tuam Mother and Baby Home.
Image: PA
Children s socks at the grotto on an unmarked mass grave at the site of the Tuam Mother and Baby Home.
Image: PA
THERE WERE A number of public servants who raised concerns about the conditions at Ireland’s mother and baby homes, including the high infant mortality rate.
Mother and baby homes report fails to fully address the issue of illegal adoptions
It is estimated that 15% of children born in Ireland s mother and baby homes were illegally adopted, but this week s report has left the issue officially at least hidden in plain sight
Newspapers in the 1950s were able to report that hundreds of children were being flown to the US and the work of researchers including Conall Ó Fátharta and Mike Milotte make it clear that Ireland was the centre of a vast international forced adoption ring. Picture: iStock
Thu, 14 Jan, 2021 - 11:00
Neil Michael
It’s easy to see how Tuam defined public perceptions of mother and baby homes.
Comment: Mother and baby home redress must not compound 2002 mistakes
The 2002 indemnity deal for religious orders has cost the State more than €1.5bn before the publication of the mother and baby homes report
Taoiseach Micheál Martin called the 2002 indemnity deal for religious orders a mistake in an RTÉ documentary earlier this year.
Thu, 14 Jan, 2021 - 06:30
Paul Hosford, Political Correspondent
Taoiseach Micheál Martin is an understated man, but when he called the 2002 indemnity deal for religious orders a mistake in an RTÉ documentary earlier this year, he made more than an understatement.
The Taoiseach was in the Cabinet that passed the agreement brought forward by then education minister Dr Michael Woods. The deal agreed saw 18 religious congregations pay a total of €128m in a combination of cash and property in exchange for a State indemnity against all future actions by victims and survivors.
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Mother and baby home survivors told they can request full paper copy of commission report if they want to read it
The department said no physical copies of the report were made available ahead of its online release. By Orla Dwyer Thursday 14 Jan 2021, 2:54 PM Jan 14th 2021, 2:54 PM 11,434 Views 12 Comments
File image at a Tuam mother and baby home silent vigil in 2018.
Image: Brian Farrell
Image: Brian Farrell
MOTHER AND BABY home survivors and their families have the option of receiving a paper copy of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation final report upon request, the Department of Children has said.