Zappone sent letter of concern over Bessborough site

Former children's minister Katherine Zappone raised significant concerns regarding the Bessborough mother and baby home site in Cork, according to the Special Advocate for survivors of institutional abuse. Zappone's letter, submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála (the Planning Commission), is part of publicly available documents detailing submissions to the commission.

“

enough was not done to determine burial sites

This submission comes two weeks after An Coimisiún Pleanála granted planning permission for a 106-apartment development on the former Bessborough site. In her correspondence, dated April 13, Zappone, who oversaw the Mother and Baby Home Commission of Investigation from 2016 to 2020, stated that "enough was not done to determine burial sites" at Bessborough. She noted that efforts to locate burial grounds were insufficient compared to those undertaken at Tuam.

“

there were modest efforts to do so (locate burial grounds) at Bessborough by the Mother and Baby Home Commission, but these were not sufficient or similar to the efforts made at Tuam

Zappone also rejected the planning requirement for forensic archaeologists to be present during construction. She argued that builders working on the site posed a greater risk of destroying potential human remains, even with monitoring, thereby eliminating any possibility of DNA identification. She suggested the commission seek expert advice on why a Ground Penetrating Radar examination, used in the initial testing phase at Tuam, was not requested for Bessborough.

“

It seems logical to conclude that builders who are working on the site would hold even greater potential to destroy human remains, even with monitoring, thus potentially obliterating any kind of possibility of DNA identification

The Special Advocate for Survivors stated that Zappone's letter clearly indicates her concern about the commission's inadequate efforts to locate infant and child remains at Bessborough. Many mothers and family members have contacted the advocate seeking information about the burial locations of their children on institutional grounds across Ireland, highlighting the ongoing distress caused by the lack of definitive identification.

“

the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation did not request [lead consultant Forensic Archaeologist] (who was their consultant to them on these matters) to do the same kind of initial testing for potential human remains as was done in Tuam