5 days ago
‘Good step forward' as bishop to meet Sean Ross Abbey campaigners
The Bishop of Killaloe has agreed to meet survivors of Sean Ross Abbey following their calls for further investigations at the 'angel's plot' at the former mother and baby home, the Irish Examiner has learned.
The Catholic Press Office said Bishop Fintan Monahan is willing to meet campaigners and survivors about the burial ground for babies and children.
It comes as the We Are Still Here group has had ground-penetrating scans carried out on the former grounds of the home, made famous by the Oscar-nominated film Philomena.
The office said: 'Sean Ross Abbey is in the diocese of Killaloe, and it was run by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary, who are no longer there. While he is just nine years as bishop in the diocese, Bishop Monahan understands that the diocese had no role in the running of the mother and baby home, apart from chaplaincy services.
'The baptismal records for the home are in the possession of the diocese. The bishop's own brother, who has additional needs, was a resident in Sean Ross for a number of years in the early 1970s when it became a home for special needs children.'
The statement said the bishop was willing to meet survivors 'if it might be helpful to such a group to discuss any of the above or other issues'.
The Roscrea home was operated by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary between 1931 and 1969. During that time, 6,414 women were admitted there, and 6,079 children were born or admitted there.
Paul Lynch, Bandon, left, with Michael Donovan at the entrance to Sean Ross Abbey, Roscrea. Picture via Denis Minihane
Death records show 1,090 children died during its operation. Some were recorded with causes of death that included 'choking on porridge' and 'sun stroke'. But there are just 44 graves.
Michael Donovan, who has campaigned for the grounds of the home to be examined in more detail, said he was 'really happy' that the bishop had offered to meet them. 'It is a really good step forward. There is a tank on the grounds of the home and we want it opened.
'We had the place scanned by engineers and anomalies were found. Now all we want is for further test excavations to be carried out so we can rule things out. We are not saying children are in the tank buried like they are in Tuam but we do want further examinations done as there are no burial records for the 1,090 children.'
Ann Connolly, who was born in Sean Ross Abbey in 1968, has also welcomed the decision by the bishop. She said: 'I have been contacting Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary to get information about the missing children. We hope the bishop can help in some way.'
