Cavan and Monaghan County Councils have apologised for their roles in Mother and Baby Homes.
Last month, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin issued a formal apology on behalf of the State to all former residents of the institutions.
Cathaoirleach Sarah O'Reilly acknowledged Cavan County Council's role in the establishment of the Dunboyne Mother and Baby Home, which operated from 1955 until its closure in 1991.
Cavan County Council also supported facilities such as Bethany in Dublin and Castlepollard.
She apologised "unreservedly" for the "pain and suffering" caused in these institutions, and added that this apology is "acknowledgment of our deep regret" that the Council "was part of this failure".
Meanwhile, Cathaoirleach Colm Carthy also apologised "unreservedly" for the "pain and suffering" caused in Mother and Baby Homes or the County Home in Castleblayney, which had been under the control of Monaghan County Council.
He added that the local authority is committed to supporting measures including memorialisation and access to archives and records.
Statement from Cavan County Council
As Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council and on behalf of the Council, I wish to apologise unreservedly to the girls, young women and their babies, the survivors, and those now deceased and their relatives for the pain and suffering caused while in any institution under the support of this Council.
I welcome the fact that An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, TD issued a formal apology on behalf of the State and people of Ireland, to all former residents of the Mother and Baby Home and County Homes institutions.
His apology follows the publication of the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes on January 12th.
The Government now intends to give detailed consideration to the Report over the coming months with a view to developing a comprehensive Action Plan to address eight specific themes to include:
- A survivor-centred approach;
- Apology;
- Access to Personal Information;
- Archiving and Databases;
- Education and Research;
- Memorialisation;
- Restorative Recognition;
- Dignified Burial.
In 1954, Cavan County Council partnered with four neighbouring local authorities (Louth, Longford, Monaghan, and Westmeath), supported Meath County Council to establish a Mother and Baby Home in Dunboyne, which operated from 1955 until it closed in 1991.
Cavan County Council acknowledges its role in the establishment of the Dunboyne Mother and Baby Home and that as a health authority, the Council also supported a number of other facilities such as Bethany, Dublin and Castlepollard, Co. Westmeath.
I wish to sincerely apologise to the residents, their children, their families, and the relatives of those who resided in these Homes and who suffered or were mistreated while resident there.
While this apology cannot undo the past, it is acknowledgement of our deep regret that the girls and young women were failed by the State and a recognition that this Council was part of that failure.
It is an acknowledgement of the stories of these Cavan people.
Their stories should be listened to and respected by us all.
Statement from Monaghan County Council
As Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council and on behalf of the elected members, I wish to apologise unreservedly to the women and girls who were incarcerated, their babies, the survivors, those now deceased and their relatives, for the pain and suffering caused while resident in Mother and Baby Homes or in the County Home in Castleblayney, while it was under the control of Monaghan County Council.
An Taoiseach Michéal Martin T.D. issued a formal apology on behalf of the State to former residents of the Mother and Baby Home and County Homes institutions, following the publication of the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, (on January 12th).
The Government now intends to give detailed consideration to the Report over the coming months with a view to developing a comprehensive Government Action Plan to address eight specific themes to include:
• A survivor-centred approach;
• Apology;
• Access to Personal Information;
• Archiving and Databases;
• Education and Research;
• Memorialisation;
• Restorative Recognition;
• Dignified Burial.
Monaghan County Council, as a public assistance authority, had responsibility for unmarried mothers and their children and the operation of the County Home in Castleblayney until 1970.
The Council sincerely apologises to the residents, their children/adopted people, their families and the relatives of those who resided in the Mother and Baby Homes or the county home, who suffered and were mis-treated while resident there.
Monaghan County Council will actively participate with Government in furthering the development of the Government Action Plan as it relates to local government and as it relates to County Monaghan.
Monaghan County Council commits to supporting local measures that form part of the suite of follow-up actions, for example, in relation to memorialisation and access to archives and records.
In this regard, the Council will request that Government brings forward, as a priority, the legislation required to enable survivors and adopted people the right to access their records and personal information, which will be an important step in addressing the concerns expressed by the residents. We also call for robust supports* to be put in place that are unconditional. Most of all, we ask that the women and girls, and their now adult children, are listened to and respected.
While the Council’s apology cannot undo the pain and suffering, it is an acknowledgement of our deep regret that the women and girls, and their children, were failed by the State and a recognition that the Council was part of that failure.
