Council in Newry will tonight (Monday) be asked to support a call for a Human Right-compliant public inquiry into alleged abuses at former mother and baby homes.
Newry Mourne and Down Council is being asked to support the Sinn Fein motion, which will be presented by councillor Liz Kimmins.
Speaking prior to the Council meeting the Newry City councillor give some background into the reasons for her motion
“In 2013, the Irish government released the McAleese report which set out to establish the facts of State involvement with the Magdalen Laundries in the 26 counties,” said councillor Kimmins.
“As many of us will know, this report uncovered the horrific suffering that many women and girls, and their children suffered in these mother and baby homes, and it concluded that there was a great deal of state involvement in these cases.
“The publication of the McAleese report subsequently encouraged many more women to come forward and tell their stories in the North, and this highlighted to some degree the similarity of the abuse that occurred across Ireland.
The Sinn Féin elected representative continued: “We have therefore brought this motion to this council tonight to ensure that those victims and survivors who were incarcerated in similar institutions in the North, have their voices heard and are given the formal recognition they deserve for the suffering they too have endured at the hands of the state and religious institutions.
“I would therefore hope that our Council will support this motion and help to make this proposal a reality for the victims and survivors who continue to campaign for the justice they deserve.
“This Council recognises the citizens of this district’s commitment to human rights and will therefore support those seeking a human rights-compliant public inquiry into allegations of forced labour, arbitrary detention, ill treatment and the illegal adoption of babies in former mother and baby homes in this district and across the north.”
