The religious congregation that ran the Bessborough mother and baby home where more than 900 babies died has said it “did not contribute to the toxic agenda in Ireland at the time, but tried to respond to need”, new records have revealed. The religious run institution was known for its high mortality rates — with 923 children dying in appalling conditions during that time. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss a proposed contribution to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme for survivors. They also said they were not denying the experience of survivors and agreed that the report is not easy reading. They said the congregation “were invited to Ireland to open and run the mother and baby homes in the three locations”.

Source: Irish Examiner March 29, 2026 14:54 UTC