Sinn Féin spokesperson on Children, Kathleen Funchion TD, has said reports that survivors’ testimonies to the Mother and Baby Homes commission report have been destroyed are ‘very alarming’.

Teachta Funchion said: 

“Several survivors have come forward to express their shock that the commission has said it has destroyed their testimonies. Their legal representatives say this was not made clear to them at the time they were engaging with the commission.

“This is very alarming. The commission must urgently clarify if this has happened, how many survivors this has affected and why this has been done?

“Survivors shared their often deeply personal stories with great courage and bravery, despite how upsetting this was. They were determined to ensure the truth came out. 

“Now, they are hearing that testimonies have been cast aside and discarded. If this is the case, this is yet another example of survivors being treated with contempt by the commission. The commission and the government have repeatedly added to survivors’ distress with how they have handled this report through media leaks, disrespectful language and poor consultation.

“Last week, in my capacity as Chair of the Oireachtas Children’s Committee I invited the Chairperson of the commission report to appear before the committee. This issue is among those that I will be asking Judge Murphy to urgently address at the committee.

“Survivors cannot continue to be treated with such little respect.”