Home survivors’ group to meet council

A survivor of the Sean Ross Mother and Baby Home in Roscrea says she and other members of the survivors' group will not be looking for an apology for the way they were treated in the institution from Tipperary County Council, which has invited them to a specially convened meeting on the issue this Monday.

The Cathaoirleach of the council Michael Smith revealed at last Monday's meeting of the council that he had invited members of the survivors' group, including Portroe- based survivor Teresa Collins, to next week's meeting on Zoom.

Ms Collins, who was born to an unmarried mother in Sean Ross in 1963, told this newspaper that she or other members of the survivors were not seeking an apology from the council at this stage.

Instead they would be seeking its support for further ground scans to be carried out in the grounds of Sean Ross in a bid to determine if infants unaccounted for who were residents of the former home were buried there in unmarked graves.

DEFER FORMAL APOLOGY

She said she and other members of the group wanted the council to defer any formal apology for what happened to them in the home until certain commitments were met, including a commitment that a lasting memorial be erected to the infants and mothers who died in the home.

She said before any other apologies were issued both she and other survivors wanted Children's Minister Roderic O' Gorman to order further ground scans be carried out to ascertain if there were graves of infants buried on the site that had yet to be identified.

"We have identified three areas on the site were remains may be buried. There are still 1,090 children who passed through Sean Ross who are not accounted for," said Ms Collins.

She said the private owner of the site had given a commitment to her group that he would allow access to the property for ground scans to take place.

She said an apology from the council for its part in the scandal over the way residents of the home were treated would "mean nothing" until those actions were taken.

In a statement made at last Monday's meeting of the council held on Zoom, Cathaoirleach Smith welcomed the publication of the Commission of Investigation's report shedding light on how residents of the Roscrea home and other similar homes were treated.

MINUTE'S SILENCE

A minute's silence was observed by members at the meeting in memory of the victims of Sean Ross.

Councillor Smith said the former North and South Tipperary County Councils like in other other local authorities had a role in the provision of health care covering such homes up until 1969 when health boards took over their function.

Sean Ross mother and baby home opened in 1931 and closed in 1969. During that time 6,414 women were admitted to this home and 6,079 children were born or admitted there. Some 1,090 infants died in the home over the 38 years it operated, a grim statistic that raises serious questions about the level of care afforded in the home.

Sean Ross was run by the congregation of Sisters of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

Councillor Smith said the commission's report highlighted "a profound failure of empathy, understanding and compassion over a long period ... The report highlights a very dark and disturbing time in our history."

COMPREHENSIVE ACTION PLAN

Councillor Smith said the Government has a stated intention to develop a comprehensive action plan following the publication of this report to address a survivors-centered approach, an apology, access to personal information, archiving and database, educational research, restorative recognition and dignified burial.

"Tipperary County Council will fully and actively participate with government in all matters related to local government to develop this action plan," said Councillor Smith, adding that the publication of the mother and baby homes report and its findings into Sean Ross were only the start of the process.

What he intended for next Monday's specially convened meeting was to allow councillors to discuss and express their views and to "consideration resolutions".

He said he had also invited Ms Collins and members of the Sean Ross survivors group to participate.

"I want to especially today, and most sincerely on your behalf, to pay tribute to the former residents of Sean Ross. I want to acknowledge their courage and thank them for their testimonies.

"I am very conscious of the pain involved particularly for the survivors. They must have our utmost respect and support in their quest for discovery, take the steps to alleviate the burden and to ensure that nothing like this happens again."

Councillor Michael Fitzgerald complimented the Cathaoirleach on the very sensitive way he was handling a situation that had unfolded in his own home town of Roscrea. "I look forward to the meeting next Monday. It is vitally important that it is being addressed in this way by the council."