Northern Ireland

Belfast councillors call on Executive to set up inquiry into mother and baby homes in the north

The former Marianvale mother and baby home in Newry, Co Down
The former Marianvale mother and baby home in Newry, Co Down The former Marianvale mother and baby home in Newry, Co Down

Belfast City councillors have called on the Executive to set up a public inquiry into mother and baby homes in Northern Ireland after a commission into similar homes in the Republic submitted its final report last week.

The council is to write to the Executive on the issue after a motion, proposed by People Before Profit councillors Michael Collins and Fiona Ferguson, was agreed without a vote on Monday night.

Councillors agreed to contact the Executive and “express dismay at their refusal to conduct a human rights compliant public inquiry into near-identical institutions in this jurisdiction, and to urgently call on them to conduct such an inquiry with victims and survivors at the heart of the process”.

READ MORE: Donegal man born in Newry mother and baby home in desperate search for birth familyOpens in new window ]

The council will also write to the Irish government to express its “deep concern” amid a row over access to the personal data of women who stayed in the homes or were adopted from them.

A final report by the Republic’s Mother and Baby Homes Commission was submitted last week but has not yet been published.

Campaigners had raised concerns legislation passed last month would see some records sealed for 30 years.

The Irish government later said survivors of mother and baby homes and those who were adopted will be legally entitled to access their personal data.

People Before Profit councillor Fiona Ferguson
People Before Profit councillor Fiona Ferguson People Before Profit councillor Fiona Ferguson

Ms Ferguson said an inquiry into mother and baby homes in the north was long overdue.

"The Stormont Executive has refused to initiate a public inquiry into the heinous actions against women and their children in mother and baby homes in the north for too long and I am glad council will now call on them to act,” she said.

"The council will also write to the Irish Government, condemning its actions which have caused unknown hurt to victims.”

The north’s Department of Health has commissioned research into mother and baby homes and Magdalene laundries.

A spokeswoman for the department said the research has been completed and has been sent to those criticised in it to give them a right of reply.

It is understood the research was completed in February.

“When complete, the report will be amended, if necessary, and submitted to the Northern Ireland Executive with options on the way forward,” she said.

“It is intended that publication will be before the end of 2020, subject to the necessary approvals.”

Solicitor Claire McKeegan of Phoenix Law
Solicitor Claire McKeegan of Phoenix Law Solicitor Claire McKeegan of Phoenix Law

Solicitor Claire McKeegan, of Phoenix Law, has initiated legal proceedings against the Department of Health over the failure to establish a public inquiry. A judicial review is due to be lodged.

“Our clients have been campaigning for a public inquiry into mother and baby homes in Northern Ireland since 2009,” she said.

“They were left out of the inquiry into Historic Institutional Abuse and they have been denied truth and justice for decades.

“The UN Committee Against Torture highlighted the failure of the state in Northern Ireland to properly investigate acts of abuse perpetrated against these women and their babies in a 2019 report.

“Despite engagement with survivors for many years, the Executive has failed to make a commitment to a public inquiry which the survivors have repeatedly called for.”