The reports of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes are published in full and are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/collections/interim-reports-of-the-commission-of-investigation-into-mother-and-baby-homes-and-certain-related-matters/.
The details of the Commission's findings in relation to burials of people who were resident in the former institution at Bessborough are set out in Chapter 4 of its fifth interim report and Chapter 38a of its final report.
As outlined in the reports, the Commission examined the records of the deaths in the institution and cross referenced these with information provided by the General Register Office. It also reviewed the records compiled in the institution, and now held by Tusla, and confirmed that there was no information about burial arrangements there. Given the lack of documentary evidence, the Commission investigated the possibility of unrecorded burial arrangements in the grounds of the institution as well as the possibility that former residents of Bessborough might have been buried in other locations.
The Commission carried out cartographic and landscape assessments of possible unrecorded burial arrangements at the site. It also carried out a site survey and followed up with people on responses to its appeal seeking information about burials. However, it was unable to find any physical or documentary evidence of burials of the children who died at Bessborough in the grounds. As no evidence of locations was found, the Commission did not consider it feasible to excavate the full available site, which amounts to 60 acres, or indeed the former 200 acres estate, parts of which have now been built on.
