The Miscarriage Association of Ireland has criticised the decision by the Little Company of Mary Sisters to transfer a plot used for the burial of dozens of miscarried babies. Georgina O'Halloran reports.
The Holy Angels plot will be transferred from Mount Carmel Hospital in Churchtown, Dublin, to Kilmashogue Cemetery, Rathfarnam, today.
The plot was used for the burial of miscarried babies from the hospital between 1961 and 2002. It is not known how many babies have been buried there, but the sisters say it could run into dozens.
The site is being moved because the hospital is being extended to provide facilities for the older nuns in the convent who need nursing care.
According to Sister Celine Bourke, a spokeswoman for the Little Company of Mary Sisters, the plot might end up as a passageway within the new complex if it is not moved.
She said they did not want to incorporate it as part of the building because it would not be as accessible to parents.
"We're conscious of the sensitive nature of this and with the architect we looked at every alternative to save the plot, but it wasn't possible," she added.
The remains will be reinterred at the new Holy Angels plot at Kilmashogue Cemetery in a special interdenominational service at 2.30 p.m. A plaque will be made from the stones from the top of the present plot.
The sisters said yesterday they have put several support services in place for parents, including a counselling service and a confidential helpline.
However, Ms Karen Gilligan, a spokeswoman for the Miscarriage Association of Ireland, said that parents were devastated by the decision.
"We really can't support Mount Carmel in what they're doing," she said.
Ms Gilligan said the association would continue to support parents who have babies buried at the new plot.
She criticised the sisters for putting advertisements about the move in the legal section of the national papers, which she said most people would not see. The organisation had only been informed of the move a month ago.
Ms Gilligan said the provision of a helpline for only four hours each day from Monday to Friday was inadequate.
The special helpline number at the hospital is (01) 4063483. The service is available Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
The Miscarriage Association of Ireland is at Carmichael Centre, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7, and can be contacted at (01) 8735702.