Bessborough must not be built over – Harmon
Bessborough must not be built over - Harmon - The Labour Party
Labour Senator Laura Harmon has called for an immediate pause on plans for a large scale residential development at the former Bessborough Mother and Baby Home site, after developer Estuary View Enterprises was granted planning permission to build apartments on the land.
Senator Harmon said:
“This decision has caused deep distress to many people. Bessborough is a place where more than 900 babies died, either within the institution or after being transferred to Cork hospitals, and fewer than 70 of those children have known burial sites. That reality cannot be set aside.
“I have heard from survivors, relatives and members of the wider community who feel profound hurt at the prospect of development on this site. For many families, Bessborough is not simply a location on a map. It is a place bound up with loss, unanswered questions and enduring grief.
“We still do not know where the vast majority of these children are buried. Families are entitled to truth, access to records and a respectful process of memorialisation. Moving ahead with construction before these matters are fully addressed risks causing further pain and undermining efforts to establish clarity and dignity.
“I do not believe it is appropriate to build on this site at this time. In circumstances where the remains of so many children have not been accounted for, sensitivity and care must guide every decision.”