Bessborough: ‘That land can’t be touched'

“I was in Bessborough. I was put in there by a social worker. I'm a survivor. We are not looking for pity, but we should be treated with respect at least.”

The words of Bessborough survivor Catherine Coffey O'Brien who is calling for the withdrawal of plans to build 246 apartments on land believed to be the burial site of hundreds of children linked to the former mother and baby home.

Campaigners are asking that developers MWB Two Ltd withdraw its application for the proposed Gateway View development until the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation’s final report is published.

“We are waiting on the outcome, and until the findings are published, and we are allowed to digest and feel those findings, that land can't be touched,” said Ms Coffey O'Brien.

She added: “I've had calls from London, Galway, Dublin and Kerry from women whose children are buried at Bessborough. They are triggered. To put up the notice on the same week the commission's enquiry is supposed to come out and so close to Christmas; it's insensitive and it's disrespectful.”

The Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation’s final report is expected to be released early next week.

Researcher and campaigner Maureen Considine told the Cork Independent that it would be "madness” to release the report any closer to Christmas. She said: “I'm really hoping for it next week, but it's hard to say.”

According to Ms Considine, the contents of the report have already been described as “harrowing”.

She said: “My hope is that the report will acknowledge a huge amount of misogyny towards women of lower social classes, minorities and Travellers.

“The poorer women had to stay in the institution afterwards and work off their time. It has to be acknowledged that some people spent years there. There are women who died there in their 80s.”

MWB Two Ltd is applying to Cork City Council for permission to erect 67 apartments in an eight-storey building.

Simultaneously, the developer intends to apply separately to An Bord Pleanála through the fast-track strategic housing development (SHD) process for an additional 179 units in three buildings ranging in height from five to seven stories.

In a statement provided by MWB Two, the developer confirmed that it had lodged a planning application for a new residential development on a 3.7 acre site in Mahon, Blackrock.

“The proposed Gateway View development will be directed towards the private rental market and will also include serviced step-down accommodation for the elderly.

“The overall development will be sensitively designed and landscaped throughout, creating an inclusive community feel,” the statement read.