More than 9,000 babies died in single-mother homes in Ireland between the 1920s and 1990s, many run by Catholic religious orders, an expected investigation concluded after years of campaigning survivors and their offspring.
In some years in the 1930s and 1940s, according to the report, more than 40% of children in mother and baby homes die before their first birthday, high mortality rates often known to the government and local authorities.
Throughout the study period, about 15% of all children in the 18 institutions investigated died in homes, some of which were owned by local health authorities and run by others by religious orders. .
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said the report described a “dark, difficult and embarrassing chapter in very recent Irish history” that had lasting consequences. He said the Church, the state and society shared responsibility and that responsible religious orders should contribute to those seeking reparation.
Some of the religious orders responsible for the homes apologized. The former Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, said that “the church overcame its role and became a controlling church” and should apologize, in comments to RTÉ, the Irish broadcaster. He said those responsible for the abuse betrayed vulnerable women and their vocation.