Dear Minister O’Gorman, 

We write to you as constituents of Dublin West. We wish to register our absolute disgust at the decision taken in the Dail to seal the mother and baby home records. We do not accept this was necessary — you and the government refused to accept any amendments or proposals as to how it could be avoided. Worst of all, you moved in haste to bring in this legislation to seal records without consulting in advance with any interested or survivor groups.  You then hollowly expressed regret the following day, when you knew this was too late. 

Victims and survivors of the female prisons that were the mother and baby homes are further violated, rejected and silenced by this decision. You were elected on a largely progressive vote that was pro-LGBT+ rights and pro-Repeal. This policy is the opposite of those progressive sentiments. Rather than challenging the church and state nexus, you have bowed to it. The Green Party more broadly claims to focus on social justice, where is the justice here?

Dublin West had one of the largest ‘homes’ in the country, St Patrick’s on the Navan Road, which had horrific infant mortality rates. How is this secrecy dealing with that horrific legacy? 

We want this decision overturned immediately.  All information should be available to survivors, who should also be assisted to track and trace or to reconnect with their families. They should also be adequately financially compensated to help them deal with the trauma and impact of this on their lives. If this decision is not reversed, this misogynistic and anti-poor act of sealing such records will be your political legacy. 

Signed,  

Action Against Gender Violence Dublin West