Department of Children defends work at Bessborough site amid calls for new probe

The Department of Children has defended the work undertaken by the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation at the Bessborough site. This defense comes in response to renewed calls for a fresh forensic investigation, prompted by concerns raised by former Children's Minister Katherine Zappone.

Ms. Zappone questioned whether the Commission had adequately searched for burial locations at Bessborough. In a submission to An Coimisiún Pleanála, she argued that the Commission's efforts were insufficient and dissimilar to those made at the Tuam site. Specifically, she noted the absence of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys and expressed concern that builders' excavation activities could destroy potential human remains.

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The Commission said at the time that it found no physical or documentary evidence of systematic burials within the grounds, but considered it to be highly likely that burials took place there. However, it was unable to find any evidence of burials of children who died there in the grounds.

A spokesperson for the Department pointed to the Commission's 2019 interim report, which detailed efforts such as cartographic and landscape assessments, as well as a site survey. While the Commission found no physical or documentary evidence of systematic burials at Bessborough, it deemed such burials highly likely. However, it was unable to find evidence of children's burials on the grounds.

The Department also noted the Commission's assessment that excavating the entire 60-acre site, or the larger 200-acre estate with extensive post-closure building work, was not feasible. The Institutional Burials Act 2022 allows for investigations where the government is satisfied that manifestly inappropriate burials have occurred, but the Department stated that in Bessborough's case, the location of burials remains unknown.

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In the case of Bessborough, the location of burials is sadly unknown