Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation: Your questions answered
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Ó: An Roinn Leanaí, Comhionannais, Míchumais, Lánpháirtíochta agus Óige
- Foilsithe: 1 Márta 2021
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 11 Márta 2021
- Institutions that were investigated
- Under what Act the Commission was established
- The nature of hearings
- Whether the Commission was able to access private and public records
- Whether the Commission helped people who were adopted from these institutions to trace their identity and birth relatives
- Whether the Commission provided Redress or Compensation
Institutions that were investigated
Mother and Baby Homes*
- Ard Mhuire, Dunboyne, Co Meath
- Belmont (Flatlets), Belmont Ave, Dublin 4
- Bessboro House, Blackrock, Cork
- Bethany Home, originally Blackhall Place, Dublin 7 and from 1934 Orwell Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6
- Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home, Tuam, Co. Galway
- Denny House, Eglinton Rd, Dublin 4, originally Magdalen Home, 8 Lower Leeson St, Dublin 2
- Kilrush, Cooraclare Rd, Co. Clare
- Manor House, Castlepollard, Co Westmeath
- Ms. Carr’s (Flatlets), 16 Northbrook Rd, Dublin 6
- Regina Coeli Hostel, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7
- Sean Ross Abbey, Roscrea, Co Tipperary
- St. Gerard’s, originally 39, Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1
- St. Patrick’s, Navan Road, Dublin 7, originally known as Pelletstown; and subsequent transfer to Eglinton House, Eglinton Rd, Dublin 4
- The Castle, Newtowncunningham, Co. Donegal
- Historical and official sources may refer to these institutions by various names, and in some cases the Homes may have moved premises during their period of operation.
County Homes
- St Kevin's Institution (Dublin Union)
- Stranorlar County Home, Co Donegal (St Joseph's)
- Cork City County Home (St Finbarr's)
- Thomastown County Home, Co Kilkenny (St Columba's)
Under what Act the Commission was established
The Commision was established under the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 which is available at the link below.
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2004/act/23/enacted/en/html
The nature of hearings
The Act provides that evidence will generally be received in private, except where a witness requests to give evidence in public and the Commission grants the request, or the Commission is satisfied that it is desirable in the interests of both the investigation and fair procedures to hear the evidence of a witness in public.
The Confidential Committee hearings were held in private.
Whether the Commission was able to access private and public records
Yes.
The Commission’s powers extend to all records relevant to its investigation irrespective of the status of the person or entity in possession of the records.
Whether the Commission helped people who were adopted from these institutions to trace their identity and birth relatives
The Commission had no role in resolving identity or tracing relatives.
TUSLA, the Child and Family Agency, Information and Tracing services can be accessed at the following link:
https://www.tusla.ie/services/alternative-care/adoption-services/tracing-service/
The Adoption Authority of Ireland also has responsibility for maintaining the National Adoption Contact Preference Register which matches relatives parted through adoption, when both parties apply to join the Register. Information and Tracing services can be accessed at the following link:
Whether the Commission provided Redress or Compensation
The Commission had no power to award redress or compensation.