There are currently “no plans” for a geophysical survey at the site of the former Bessborough Mother and Baby Home in Cork, says the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation (MBHCOI).
In January, the commission carried out a geophysical survey at a reported children's burial site on the grounds of the former Sean Ross Abbey Mother and Baby Home in Tipperary, which was run by the same order as the Bessborough home, BreakingNew.ie reports.
According to Bessborough's death registers, which were handed over to the HSE in 2011, 470 infants and 10 women died in the home between 1934 and 1953, but only 353 deaths were reported by the order (The Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary) to state inspectors during that period.
MBHCOI director Ita Mangan said the commission has "no plans at present" to carry out a geophysical survey at the site but added that burial arrangements at Bessborough will be addressed in an upcoming report.
"The burial arrangements at Bessborough are being examined and will be reported on in the burials report which we propose to submit to the Minister in March. We have looked at the grounds but have not conducted a geophysical or similar examination of Bessborough," she said.
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An investigation last year by the Irish Examiner revealed at least 21 children from the Bessborough home and the former St Anne’s Adoption Society are buried in unmarked graves in St. Finbarr’s cemetery in Cork city.
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