The arrival of sexual health charity Brook in Northern Ireland in the early 1990s was controversial to say the least. The proposal to open up a Brook clinic in Belfast city centre was even debated in Parliament, with a range of Northern Ireland MPs expressing concern that it would lead to young people engaging in sex outside of marriage.
But while the politicians were discussing the proposed clinic at Westminster, the response in Northern Ireland became increasingly hostile.
The idea to invite Brook to Northern Ireland came from Professor Gabriel Scally, who, at the time, was Director of Public Health at the now-defunct Eastern Health and Social Services Board.
Survivor of St Joseph s Industrial School in Kilkenny to speak at meeting
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Following the release of the commission’s report on Mother and Baby Homes last week, survivors of church and state abuse have organised an online open meeting to voice their concerns and frustrations.
Maureen Sullivan, Deirdre Wadding and Ray Noctor, who are all survivors of church and state abuse, will be speaking at it and all are welcome to virtually attend.
The meeting will take place on Thursday (January 21) at 7pm, it will be chaired by People Before Profit cllr Adrienne Wallace and can be viewed by following the link on her facebook page ‘@AdriennePBPA’.
); Illegitimate children could contaminate the morals of society so had to be hidden and illegally adopted
Adopted people and survivors of mother and baby homes say forced adoption was widespread, regardless of what the commission says. By Órla Ryan Sunday 17 Jan 2021, 8:00 AM Jan 17th 2021, 8:00 AM 33,005 Views 0 Comments File photo Source: Shutterstock/ChameleonsEye
SURVIVORS AND CAMPAIGNERS have criticised how the final report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes deals with the issue of adoption.
The long-awaited report – which was published on Tuesday and can be read here - said the commission found “little evidence” of forced adoption.
The Commission’s investigation of mother and baby homes covered many institutions with different governance, financial arrangements and practices between 1922 and 1998.
The Commission’s investigation of mother and baby homes covered many institutions with different governance, financial arrangements and practices between 1922 and 1998.
Some were owned and run by the local health authorities such as the county homes and Pelletstown, Tuam and Kilrush which employed some members of religious orders to run them.
Others were owned by religious orders – for example the three homes run by the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Bessborough, Sean Ross Abbey and Castlepollard. As ‘extern’ homes they were not owned by the public assistance/health authorities but were largely paid for by those authorities.