Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has expressed her horror at Cork City Council’s decision to grant planning permission for 140 apartments on lands at the former Bessborough mother and baby home.
Deputy Cairns said:
“This is the possible burial place of hundreds of unaccounted for children who died at this notorious institution, which operated as a mother and baby home from 1922 until 1998.
“Following previous planning refusals for housing developments on this site, I had called on the government to commit to a physical survey and possible excavation at Bessborough. I am renewing this call today in light of the granting of permission for apartments on these lands.
“Of the more than 900 children who died while in the care of the nuns at Bessborough, less than 70 have known burial grounds. In fact, the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes found it very likely that remains of infants are buried on the site.
“Further examination of these lands is crucial if we are to establish, once and for all, where these children are buried.
“Survivors of Bessborough have never received justice – not from the religious orders who abused them and not from the State who turned a blind eye to their incarceration. The very least the government owes the survivors is to find the bodies of their children.
“We need a full investigation of the grounds to establish the location of the remains of these babies, followed by sensitive excavation work and the dignified exhumation of any remains found. In addition, the Bessborough estate should also be subject to a compulsory purchase order by the State and established as a memorial to those who suffered there.
“It is only right that the State is carrying out an investigation in Tuam, but the families of the infants and children of Bessborough also deserve answers. This is not a decision that should be based on a geographical lottery.
“Given the extremely sensitive nature of the site, I will be fully supporting any appeal of this decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála.”
February 26, 2026