Laois County Council has made a formal statement regarding the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation.
The judicial commission which was published in 2021, was the result of a five-year investigation into the religious institutions for unmarried mothers and their children.
The report found that the institutions “inflicted abuse and shame – with the complicity of wider society – for much of the 20th century.”
Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council, Cllr Paschal McEvoy, speaking at the Council’s March meeting last week, made the following statement regarding the report:
“It has been brought to my attention that Laois County Council did not formally comment, as a body, following publication of the report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation,” Cllr McEvoy said.
“Therefor, I propose to make the following statement on behalf of the Council, should members so agree:
“Laois County Council conveys its regrets as to the wrongs visited onto mothers from County Laois and their children who ended up in a Mother and Baby Home, or who were discriminated against based on the marital status of the mothers in relation to their pregnancy .
“The lack of respect for the rights and the dignity of mothers and children who spent time in these institutions, or who were discriminated against on account of marital status is also acknowledged and regretted.
“In passing this motion, the Council also bears in mind the totally unacceptable treatment of the women refereed to in Section 19.29 of the final report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation which presented to hospitals in Abbeyleix and Portlaoise.”
The motion passed unanimously.
