Sean Ross Abbey survivors hope mother-and-babies report delivers
Details of how single mothers and their so-called "illegitimate babies" were treated in a home specially set up for them in Roscrea are set to be revealed following the presentation of a report to the Government.
Survivors of the Roscrea home, Sean Ross Abbey, are hoping that the 4,000 page report by the Commission set up to investigate such homes, handed over to the Government last Friday, will shed light on how 1,024 babies died there during the 40 years it operated from 1930 to 1970 and how residents were treated generally.
The deaths of infants in the home far exceed the general death rate in the locality, accounting for three quarters of all babies and children up to seven-years-old who died in the entire area of Roscrea over a 36-year period.
HEART FAILURE AND MALNUTRITION DEATHS
Almost half of all the babies who died in Sean Ross (455) are officially listed as having died from heart failure, while 128 are registered as having died from "Marasmus" (malnutrition). There were other causes of death that have put question marks over how infants were treated. Two babies, both boys, died from cardiac failure after suffering sun and heat stroke.
One of these babies, aged ten months and three weeks, died on August 17th 1947 while the other, aged one year and eight weeks, died on July 31st 1948. The manner of the deaths of these two children has led survivors and others to question if they were exposed to the sun during the summer months for excessively long periods.
In another case, a five month old baby boy died of "acute heart failure as a result from aspiration of food, probably porridge, into the child's trachea, lungs" on September 20th 1960. Other causes of death included convulsions and exhaustion.
In addition to the infant deaths, it has been established that up to 29 mothers died in the home, the majority relating to pregnancy and childbirth. One survivor is Portroe woman Teresa Collins who was born in the home to an unmarried mother in 1963.
ACCESS PERSONAL DATA
Last weekend she called on the Government to stick to the commitment it made last week that survivors like her would be legally entitled to access their personal data that was compiled about their time in the Roscrea institution and other mother and baby homes that existed throughout the State in the last century.
The clarification aimed at ensuring survivors would have access to their files was given by Government after it it was slammed by the Opposition and came in for sharp criticism from upset survivors after it initially argued that obtaining such information under GDPR would be prohibited by the 2004 Commissions of investigations Act.
"The last fortnight has been horrendous; we have felt traumatised," said Ms Collins, who is part of the Sean Ross Commemorative Committee.
Ms Collins said "people power" had forced the Government to move on the issue, but she stressed that the fight for survivors was by no means over.
Publication of the mother and baby homes report will increase pressure on the Government to issue a State apology and to come up with a financial compensation scheme for the victims of ill treatment.
Meanwhile, it is expected that publication of the Commission's report will take several months as sensitive issues around access to information have to be worked out.
Independent TD Michael Lowry has welcomed the clarification given by the government in relation to survivors accessing their files.
He said the Government's latest statement on the issue confirmed that the legislation he supported was absolutely essential to prevent vital records from being destroyed and lost forever. He said the Government had confirmed that the report will be published in full.
Deputy Lowry said further legislation will be drafted to allow easy access by victims to personal and confidential information.
Tipperary Fianna Fáil TD Jackie Cahill said the government’s next steps would be to ensure survivors are given access to the justice and answers they deserve. Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly said he was glad the Government saw the error of its ways and was now moving in the right direction to address the concerns of survivors.
"There are still many outstanding questions and we in the Labour Party will be pursuing the Government to ensure they do what is right for all of the people who have been disgracefully treated," said Deputy Kelly.
Sinn Féin TD Martin Browne said the entire issue had been treated like "a political football". The full truth now had to come out about the way victims were treated: "no more cover up, no more delays."