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A photograph from today showing where the excavations took place Christina Finn/TheJournal.ie

'It wasn't a home, it was a prison': Former residents from Tuam mother and baby home react

Catherine Corless said that she has the names of 798 children who could be among the remains at the home.

FORMER RESIDENTS FROM the Mother and Baby Home at Tuam have described the experience of being taken away from their mothers following today’s revelation about the mass grave at the site.

Earlier today, it was announced that the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes discovered a significant number of human remains in what appears to be a decommissioned sewage chamber in Tuam.

The Commission has completed two test excavations of the Galway site and today confirmed that “significant quantities of human remains have been discovered” in a structure which appears to be “related to the treatment/containment of sewerage and/or wastewater”.

The structure where the remains were found is long and divided into 20 chambers. The Commission is not yet clear if it was ever used for sewerage or wastewater.

tuam 2 The excavation area has now been sealed off Christina Finn / TheJournal.ie Christina Finn / TheJournal.ie / TheJournal.ie

Speaking on RTÉ’s Liveline with Joe Duffy, former residents who were born in the home, and remained there during the early years of their life, and people who helped to unearth the case spoke of their experience.

Historian Catherine Corless, whose work was pivotal in making the case public in 2014, said that the septic tank had stopped being used for its intended use in the late-1930s, and said there could be remains from as many as almost 800 children in the mass grave.

“I have 798 names of children who died in the home,” she said. “We know they’re not buried with their own families – I checked that out. And now we have that answer… and as I said it was former septic tanks that belonged to the workhouse.”

She added that Bon Secours need to apologise for a statement made on their behalf by the Communications Clinic in 2014, which rejected the idea that a mass grave would be found there.

One former resident, PJ Haverty, was born there in 1951, and spent six years at the Tuam home.

“The women did all the work, while the nuns prayed,” he said. “I don’t know what God they were praying to.”

He said his mother had to leave when he was a year old, as the people who ran the home did not want a bond to develop between mother and son.

She got work in Tuam, and every time she would head off to work she would come down and knock on that door and plead with the nuns to let her see her son. They always said “no, go away”.

He was later fostered out, but found his mother again years later in Brixton, south London.

“I was one of the lucky ones – I got into a good foster home and got to meet my mother again after many, many years,” he said.

He said he had never seen any indication of what was going on, in terms of mass graves at the home, but said that he and other children had been locked up and had been exposed to so little of the outside world that he didn’t even know what Christmas was.

“We had no toys at Christmas there. There was no love, and there was no care,” he said.

I don’t call it a home. It was a prison. You look out the window and all you saw was high walls all the way round.

Other survivors, Thomas Ward, and a man called Christopher said that were born in the home and the latter did remember seeing the septic tank at the site.

Christopher described how his mother was also not let see her son, but would cycle 22 miles to and from Tuam every weekend from Galway city to try to be let in.

All callers were unanimous in their praise for Corless in raising awareness of the case which helped lead to today’s announcement.

Read: Remains of young children and babies found in sewage chambers at Tuam mother and baby home

Read: Nuns who ran Tuam home have ‘no comment’ to make on today’s revelations

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41 Comments
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    Mute David Dineen
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    Mar 12th 2021, 6:03 PM

    Easy answer, it would, look complete.

    228
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    Mute Dan Duggan
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    Mar 12th 2021, 7:44 PM

    @David Dineen: Agreed.

    Also,imo, new name for the country, new flag, new anthem, move the parliament to belfast and rotate with Dublin, a new constitution, etc

    But keep Proportional Representation. Thats a red line

    41
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    Mute John Hetherton
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    Mar 12th 2021, 7:52 PM

    @Dan Duggan: No new name, no change in anthem those are red lines

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    Mute Just Some Guy
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    Mar 12th 2021, 7:52 PM

    @Dan Duggan:

    It’s bad enough having that ridiculous Ireland’s call at away Rugby games and other sporting events like Cricket, Hockey. I will definitely vote No to a United Ireland if it meant any changes in our constitution, flag and anthem

    59
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    Mute Vonvonic
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    Mar 12th 2021, 7:58 PM

    @Dan Duggan: Compromise. Make Cork the capital. Keep the anthem.

    45
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    Mute Fachtna Roe
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    Mar 12th 2021, 8:44 PM

    @John Hetherton: The only red lines with which we should concern ourselves, are on the Butcher’s Apron; if they’re gone all else is peace.

    36
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    Mute John Hetherton
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    Mar 12th 2021, 8:56 PM

    @Fachtna Roe: you are entitled to your opinion, we do after all currently live in a democracy. However I won’t be changing my opinion

    7
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    Mute MrHammey12
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    Mar 12th 2021, 9:53 PM

    @Vonvonic: haha what a compromise – ‘The Young Offenders’ sitting in the Dail. Ya all right Boy!

    3
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    Mute Cian
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    Mar 12th 2021, 10:18 PM

    @Dan Duggan: keep the name they already the same name with northern in front of it . New anthem: a nation once again. Flag an orange harp on a green background. Parliament can stay in Dublin and the constitution to be altered.

    25
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    Mute Mary Fitzsimons
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    Mar 13th 2021, 8:24 AM

    @John Hetherton: are they? Not for me, we could go back to a starry plough. And the anthem is a French song. We could find something from OCarolan or write something new.

    3
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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Mar 13th 2021, 8:46 AM

    @David Dineen: after the civil war, maybe.

    1
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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Mar 13th 2021, 8:50 AM

    @Just Some Guy: ‘shovin Connie around the field’ has served us well so far.

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    Mute Gearoid De Nogla
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    Mar 17th 2021, 8:39 AM

    @Just Some Guy: What a patriot.

    1
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    Mute Caoimhín Ó Seanáin
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    Mar 12th 2021, 6:17 PM

    The two countries on this island? Gimme a break!

    101
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    Mute Vonvonic
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    Mar 12th 2021, 6:41 PM

    @Caoimhín Ó Seanáin: One country.

    91
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    Mute reginald
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    Mar 12th 2021, 6:41 PM

    @Caoimhín Ó Seanáin: northern ireland is not a country

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    Mute Vonvonic
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    Mar 12th 2021, 6:45 PM

    @reginald: There are people who will take you up on that; but you are right. It is not a country by any real definition.

    49
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    Mute Muiris
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    Mar 12th 2021, 8:39 PM

    @Vonvonic: two countries, Cork is definitely a country

    20
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    Mute Vonvonic
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    Mar 12th 2021, 8:49 PM

    @Muiris: Oh Jesus. I nearly forgot. Two countries.

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    Mute Fachtna Roe
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    Mar 12th 2021, 8:49 PM

    @Muiris: OK, so 3 countries. Of which 1 isn’t a country. Cork is, but we can count backwards from there… ;)

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    Mute John Mc Donagh
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    Mar 12th 2021, 11:27 PM

    @Muiris: Go back to school, sure everybody knows that Ireland ends at the Red Cow!

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    Mute Peter B
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    Mar 12th 2021, 6:33 PM

    Down town Aleppo with UN peacekeepers.

    76
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    Mute Vonvonic
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    Mar 12th 2021, 6:27 PM

    It would look like a job that is finished.

    68
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    Mute The only INFP in Ireland
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    Mar 12th 2021, 6:27 PM

    Well, we in the south wouldn’t be able to travel up north for reasonably priced dental care..

    48
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    Mute Willie Penwright
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    Mar 14th 2021, 7:10 AM

    @The only INFP in Ireland:
    Southerners would get vaccinated. (Latest figures: NI 35.46%; RoI 11.46%).

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    Mute Dylan Byrne
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    Mar 12th 2021, 6:06 PM

    Depends on if we do something about the pigs in the big house first :)

    63
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    Mute Vonvonic
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    Mar 12th 2021, 6:32 PM

    @Dylan Byrne: Good answer. That’s pretty much what Connolly said over 100 years ago.

    47
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    Mute Ray Hunt
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    Mar 12th 2021, 6:45 PM

    They should look at the Spanish model and have four providence’s with their own governments and a small central government.

    43
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    Mute Lad
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    Mar 12th 2021, 7:26 PM

    @Ray Hunt: interesting. Does the budget for each province get distributed equally I wonder?

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    Mute Declan Edward
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    Mar 12th 2021, 7:26 PM

    @Ray Hunt: bring back the Republic of Connaught!

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    Mute Fachtna Roe
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    Mar 12th 2021, 9:03 PM

    @Ray Hunt: Catalonia wants out, and the people of the Basque Country never wanted in. Plus, that’s a monarchy. In the great scheme of things Spain – don’t get me wrong, great bunch o’ lads and all that – might not be an optimal model in all ways. But the federation idea is good. Switzerland may be a better model. It’s been discussed before, and in some unexpected places ( https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/state-papers-uvf-and-ira-held-talks-on-federal-ireland-in-1988-37661381.html )

    23
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    Mute TonyB
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    Mar 13th 2021, 4:41 AM

    Hard to believe the government doesn’t already have a plan for this. They should have been planning it for years and have put in place whatever was needed. If you want NI to join the republic you better make it attractive for them, e.g. make the health system on par with the NHS for a start. No one is going to join if any of their living standards decline.

    It’s a sales job…..make the people of NI want to buy!

    35
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    Mute jkcdub
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    Mar 12th 2021, 7:15 PM

    The answer is simple. I will be the high king of Ireland. I will be a loved but cruel king.

    Now worship and fear me.

    42
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    Mute Fachtna Roe
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    Mar 12th 2021, 9:10 PM

    @jkcdub: No problem. But can we have Wednesdays off as well as weekends? :)

    12
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    Mute Anna Carr
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    Mar 12th 2021, 10:07 PM

    @jkcdub: can I jump the vaccine queue your majesty lol

    7
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    Mute Special_Ed
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    Mar 12th 2021, 6:10 PM
    17
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    Mute David Duffy
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    Mar 12th 2021, 6:13 PM

    @Special_Ed: it is though. Through your link, and on the app.

    15
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    Mute Special_Ed
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    Mar 12th 2021, 6:46 PM

    @David Duffy: Thanks David…. must just have been nuked on the desktop website platform so.

    6
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    Mute Anna Carr
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    Mar 12th 2021, 10:04 PM

    If they even attempted to put a union jack anywhere on the Irish flag, I’m changing my nationality to Papua new Guinean lol. A nation once again and my 4 green fields blooming once again sounds good though

    18
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    Mute Vonvonic
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    Mar 12th 2021, 6:31 PM

    Good answer. That’s pretty much what Connolly said over 100 years ago.

    13
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    Mute Mickety Dee
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    Mar 12th 2021, 7:42 PM

    @Vonvonic: Connolly did love his dental care

    6
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    Mute leartius
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    Mar 12th 2021, 8:35 PM

    The biggest debate will not be about anything logical or financial. Issues such as commonwealth membership and Britain citizenship would be difficult to overcome.
    The one thing that would unite those who want a closer union between north and south is getting the British army off our shores. Its the power behind another type of unionism.
    Would you vote to remove the British army from this Island? Would that future be something we all could share and unite behind?

    13
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    Mute Sean Lucas
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    Mar 12th 2021, 10:30 PM

    I think it’s great in theory. However when people from the north realize how much more they will have to pay in tax I would imagine less will want to join the republic lol

    12
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    Mute Austin Shields
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    Mar 13th 2021, 8:01 AM

    @Sean Lucas: Firstly, Disposable income in Republic is higher, we pay more tax but our wages higher, so that’s more attractive. Secondly, earlier comment re getting the British army to leave…. they actually have already…thirdly, I was born and raised a nationalist in South Armagh, so I think my opinion is worth something in this discussion… I have Protestant friends and a National Anthem is something we should all be proud to sing and has meaning. If we are to have a United/New Ireland, I want my Protestant friends to sing it proudly too, so it would have to be a new anthem.Regardless of what gone before with our differences, people who say don’t change things are making things more difficult…John Hume was and always will be my hero, and that’s how he seen peaceful living together

    31
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    Mute Derek Moran
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    Mar 13th 2021, 8:57 AM

    Take the churches out of the schools and hospitals. Get rid of the two tier health system and have one for everyone. Make the twelfth of July a national holiday. There you go, unionists have nothing to complain about.

    11
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    Mute Fifty Shades of Sé
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    Mar 13th 2021, 12:25 PM

    @Derek Moran: Apart from giving up the NHS for the HSE…Goodbye Free GP Visits, Hello Kafkaesque bureaucracy.

    4
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    Mute Rob Duggan
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    Mar 12th 2021, 9:48 PM

    Good article and topic that needs careful steps..

    9
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    Mute Austin Shields
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    Mar 13th 2021, 8:04 AM

    Firstly, Disposable income in Republic is higher, we pay more tax but our wages higher, so that’s more attractive. Secondly, earlier comment re getting the British army to leave…. they actually have already…thirdly, I was born and raised a nationalist in South Armagh, so I think my opinion is worth something in this discussion… I have Protestant friends and a National Anthem is something we should all be proud to sing and has meaning. If we are to have a United/New Ireland, I want my Protestant friends to sing it proudly too, so it would have to be a new anthem.Regardless of what gone before with our differences, people who say don’t change things are making things more difficult…John Hume was and always will be my hero, and that’s how he seen peaceful living together

    9
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    Mute Willie Penwright
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    Mar 13th 2021, 5:13 PM

    Keep RTE and the Angelus so the real god will know our side won.

    5
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    Mute Declan Lee
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    Mar 13th 2021, 9:50 AM

    Unite the Clans

    4
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    Mute Ronan Murphy
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    Mar 14th 2021, 9:38 AM

    Well we could turn the unionist/loyalist model on its head and ensure inequality for that community. They would understand it’s ‘their turn’. Or we could turn the RoI model on its head and ensure inequality for the neo-liberal catholic political party members. They would understand as well that it’s ‘their turn’. Or we could discount inequality altogether and build a proper socialist republic.

    4
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    Mute Alan Curley
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    Mar 14th 2021, 8:31 PM

    A United ireland would have to include unionists as well as republicans.
    Simply stating that they get in line or else is not going to lead to a united ireland.
    If we want a united Ireland Unionists have to be part of it, especuially if we want a peaceul united Ireland.
    If this is the case, we need to ask what is the cost in a real united Ireland.
    Unionists would be giving up exactly what they wnat and getting what in return?
    Would you still allow the Union Jack to fly over official buildings in the north?
    Would we have a new National Anthem?
    Would we have a new flag (I think the tricolour would be even more apt in a united ireland but would it be accepted?)
    Would we let unionists still have Orange day parades?
    If this is to happen, it will require Sacrifice and Comprimise on BOTH sides. The question is how much comprimise is too much, what is it worth and how much do we want a united Ireland.

    3
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    Mute Ronan Murphy
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    Mar 14th 2021, 9:44 AM

    Also Stormont is not a place to have government buildings.. It is so far removed physically from the public and appears to look down on those below. It’s a horrible place

    3
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    Mute Irene Donegan
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    Mar 13th 2021, 12:16 PM

    Where’s the All Ireland Bill of Rights promised in the GFA?

    3
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    Mute Gerry Ryan
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    Mar 14th 2021, 7:36 AM

    It’s all pie in the sky until the Brits let it be known how much redundancy they’re paying

    1
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