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Updated at 4pm
WE ARE ALMOST one year on from the revelation that approximately 800 babies were buried in a mass grave at a mother and baby home in Tuam.
The story gripped the nation, and indeed the world, and forced the government into action.
Though an inquiry into the homes has been launched, survivors and those who have worked to highlight the scandal say it is important we do not forget the little babies who lost their lives, nor the women and children whose lives were ruined by their treatment.
In RTÉ’s ‘Would You Believe? The Tuam Babies’ last night, historian Catherine Corless, who first revealed details of the 800 babies, described being overwhelmed by a two-week “media frenzy” that has now died down.
These children need to be remembered. An injustice has been done to them and this needs to be rectified.
The programme centred on two of the survivors, PJ Haverty and Anne Kelly Silke, who both spent a number of years in the home after their mothers gave birth to them there.
“I don’t forget them because I was there with them,” Haverty said of the babies who died at the home. He was one of the lucky children, fostered to parents who were kind and loving.
He said his mother spent 12 months with him in the home and was then forced to leave.
For seven years she tried to visit him at the home but was never allowed to see him.
It was hard on the poor woman. In her mind it was she was going to take me away from there and take care of me eventually.
Later in life, he was reunited with his biological mother and was able to share his life with her.
A painful experience
For Silke, the story was less happy. She went to several foster homes where she was completely exploited, working day and night like a servant. At 14 she was sent to a special school in Dublin and then to a Magdalene Laundry but she escaped and made a new life for herself.
She did meet her mother in England when she was 19 but she said it was too difficult for them both, too painful, and she hasn’t spoken to her since.
“A sadness”
Corless, who worked tirelessly to help survivors find out more about their past, said her motivation came from her own mother’s story.
She always “noticed a sadness” in her mother but it was only after she died that the historian discovered her mother had been an illegitimate child and had been fostered.
“She was carrying a bit of baggage with her, her childhood wouldn’t have been that happy.”
When she found the records of the homes and heard the stories of the women and children, she could not stay silent.
Those children were brought up to believe they weren’t worthwhile, that they didn’t have the same rights as everyone else.
Not many people seemed to care really.
The stories of the 800 babies, as well as the survivors of the homes, were still hitting home with a lot of people last night.
And last night there was massive praise for Corless, who is still working now with survivors to help them find out the truth about where they came from and to speak out after decades of silence:
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If we do not pay full price for our clothes in the west others are compelled to pay it for us.
@Martin O’Rourke: ta luv, Penney’s
How these people live and die- it’s horrific. I am ashamed to admit that sometimes I feel sorry for myself when I think my life is hard. These people do slave labour and their lives are worthless. Hardly anyone has read this article even though it is posted 45 mins ago. And only 1 comment. That says it all don’t you think? Bet nobody will be held accountable for this.
@Annette Hunter: What about this guy?
The building’s owner, Rihan, who goes by one name, was detained on suspicion of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, Mr Mittal said.
@Annette Hunter: I’d say people are trying to comment but their comments like mine were perceived as toxic so wasn’t posted.
May they all rest in peace
It’s a horrible place, no value on life. That other story about that poor girl who was raped and on way to court to testify she was burnt, animals.
Horrific life and horrible death, all to make others money.
Got a whole lot of things for Christmas…..
Keep going to the big shops for cheap clothes, dont worry about the deaths.
Why do we remain complicent to these deaths? Shop for bargains, but check the country of origin tags.
Detaining the building owner is not enough. Brands hiring places like this, with no regard for human life, only to increase their margin profits must be held accountable. Supporting modern slavery is NOT ok, and companies who do need to be exposed.
In gods name what can you say another factory again destroyed by a fire .How sad So who owns it and what are the shops that uses this factory…
@Angela Godfrey Maher: there is a solution much closer to the site. Where are the regulations and enforcement orders in new Delhi? Surely if this type of thing is not illegal then it should be. If it is, why wasnt this place closed down? A govt’s first job is to protect its people. That isn’t Penney’s job or any other retailer buying clothes.
@lambda sensor: yes it is. All clothing sellers need to source products that are ethical. It’s a duty of care.
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