NI Mother & Baby Homes: First Minister announces independent investigation

Residents of homes for unmarried mothers and their children in Northern Ireland suffered a "lifetime of trauma'', Stormont's First Minister has said.

A "victim-centred'' independent investigation was ordered and Arlene Foster pledged the voices of survivors would be heard "loudly and clearly''.

A research report into operation of the institutions examined eight mother and baby homes, a number of former workhouses and four Magdalene laundries.

Mrs Foster said: "It is with huge regret that we acknowledge the pain of those experiences and the hurt caused to women and girls who did nothing more than be pregnant outside of marriage, some of them criminally against their will.

"None of us should be proud of how our society shunned women in these circumstance and of their experiences while resident in these institutions.''

More than 10,500 women entered mother and baby homes over a 68-year period from 1922.

Around a third of those admitted were aged under 19 and most were from 20-29.

A number were the victims of sexual crime, including rape and incest.

Mrs Foster added: "The research report to be published later today is only the start of a process to allow the long-silenced voices of women and their children to be heard.

"For too long they have carried a burden of shame and secrecy.

"Too often their treatment from those who were in positions of power and trust caused them real harm and a lifetime of trauma.''

Around 4% of babies were either stillborn or died shortly after birth across the entire period.

The research report does not reach firm conclusions about rates of infant mortality in mother and baby homes, the DUP leader added.

An estimated 32% of infants were sent to baby homes following separation from their birth mother.

Other babies were boarded out - fostered in today's terms. Others (around a quarter of babies) were placed for adoption.