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Ireland's Hidden Bodies, Hidden Secrets

Sue Lloyd-Roberts looks at the latest of several enquiries into the historical abuse of women and children in the care of the Roman Catholic Church.

In Ireland this June it was revealed that a mass grave contained the remains of nearly 800 babies and infants. The children died whilst in the care of Catholic nuns at a mother and baby home between 1925 and1961. The mortality rate was five times that of babies born outside the convent walls. The Irish Government has launched an inquiry. It is the latest of several enquiries into the historical abuse of women and children in the care of the Roman Catholic Church. But as Sue Lloyd-Roberts discovers there are those calling for the new inquiry to cover all the institutions run by the nuns, not just the Mother and Baby homes. Survivors of the notorious Magdalene Laundries say a recent report into them was filled with omissions and inaccuracies and want the Laundries to be part of a broad new inquiry. They're asking whether the whole truth of what women and children suffered behind Ireland's convent walls ever come out.

30 minutes

Last on

Thu 2 Oct 201401:30GMT

Broadcasts

  • Fri 26 Sep 201423:30GMT
  • Sat 27 Sep 201411:30GMT
  • Sun 28 Sep 201417:30GMT
  • Sun 28 Sep 201422:30GMT
  • Mon 29 Sep 201402:30GMT
  • Thu 2 Oct 201401:30GMT