Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Rachata Sinthopachakul via Shutterstock

Opinion Where does fatherhood feature in story of mother-and-baby homes?

Interestingly, in all the coverage about mother-and-baby homes over the past few weeks, the role of the fathers hasn’t been addressed to any extent.

WOMEN DIDN’T JUST arrive in the mother-and-baby homes, they were there because they were pregnant and they didn’t get pregnant on their own.

All of the discussion in recent times around the mother-and-baby homes has rightly focused on the mothers, their babies, the people who ran the homes and on other very important issues around adoption, experimental vaccinations and the burial of deceased infants. A commission of investigation has been approved in which all aspects of the mother-and-baby homes will be vigorously explored in a thorough and considered way. This is most essential for our society to ensure that this can never happen again.

Interestingly, however, in all the coverage over the past few weeks, the role of the fathers hasn’t been addressed to any extent.

Where are the men in this story?

Who were the men who fathered all of these children? Why didn’t they take responsibility or could they take responsibility? Were some of the men involved already married or did they believe that the pregnant women weren’t good enough to marry? It is no secret that many of the women who found themselves in mother-and-baby homes did so after suffering horrific sexual abuse. The questions surrounding this issue are endless.

The reality is that mother-and-baby homes were a product of their time; the institutions themselves need to take responsibility, the State played a role, and society as a whole accepted that ‘fallen women’ were sent to these homes. This was never discussed and judging by the lack of information available, very few questions were asked. It may be the case that society was conspiring to control and repress women’s sexuality under the influence of a male Church preaching celibacy and anti-contraception to a male Government, or it may very well be the case that it was not socially acceptable for a man to stand by his woman out of wedlock.

During the era of the mother-and-baby homes, nothing was expected of a man who fathered a child, it was essentially the woman’s problem if unmarried. Fatherhood, at that time, was clearly not valued by society – and this is emphasised even further when you consider that widowers had their children taken off them when their wives died if they could not find a suitable woman to step into the maternal role.

What is the legacy of this old attitude?

We need to consider now the legacy of this attitude on today’s society. What, if anything, has changed? Fatherhood, in my opinion, is not something to be discarded like a used condom. In or out of wedlock, it should be something to be proud of; men should be in a position to take emotional and financial responsibility for their children. But fatherhood, by law, in the eyes of many, is still an option and that is wrong.

For children born outside of marriage in Ireland, only the mother has automatic rights to guardianship. In 2012, the Government passed the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act. This change demands that an unmarried father’s name is included on his child’s birth certificate, which gives children vital information about their identity and holds errant fathers to account to provide for their children.

The Children’s First Bill published in April is also an important step forward in protecting our children and in ensuring that a situation like that of the mother-and-baby homes can never happen again. This Bill provides for key child protection measures which require specific people of responsibility to report child protection crimes. Had legislation such as this been in place all those years ago, many of the cases of neglect and abuse may not have happened.

With Father’s Day coming up on Sunday, this is a wonderful time to celebrate all that is good about fatherhood and to appreciate the majority of men who are loving, caring and very involved fathers. In a week when a Commission of Investigation into all Mother and Baby Homes was announced by the Minister for Children, Charlie Flanagan TD, we should now take this opportunity to have an open debate about fatherhood, about the men who abused and irreparably damaged so many women, about the men who were unwilling, or unable, to buck the trends that society accepted, and about the value that we now place on the role played by fathers.

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, Fine Gael TD for Laois–Offaly.

Read: State files removed from National Archive following mother and baby home revelations

Opinion: Abuse and neglect are being hidden in plain sight – but will we open our eyes?

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
73 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute JG
    Favourite JG
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 3:42 PM

    He deffo needs to set himself aside from the torys on this or he will be sent to the waste bin also

    141
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Quin
    Favourite Tom Quin
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 5:07 PM

    @JG: he’s appealing to the uk public. They don’t like strikes or union leaders and politicians on picket lines waving copies of socialist worker about. Its why Corbyn lost in a landslide.

    55
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute FiannaFáilness FineGaelness
    Favourite FiannaFáilness FineGaelness
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 5:53 PM

    @Tom Quin: Every poll on the rail workers strikes had the public in support of them.

    92
    See 8 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute FiannaFáilness FineGaelness
    Favourite FiannaFáilness FineGaelness
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 6:03 PM

    I take it back a YouGov poll didn’t. Savanta Comes poll of 2,300 58% of the people questioned said the strikes are justified, with 34% deeming them unjustified.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Quin
    Favourite Tom Quin
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 6:27 PM

    @FiannaFáilness FineGaelness: No it doesn’t.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Quin
    Favourite Tom Quin
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 6:34 PM

    @FiannaFáilness FineGaelness: The only ones showing support I can find are the ones carried by or for the RMT. No suprises there.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute FiannaFáilness FineGaelness
    Favourite FiannaFáilness FineGaelness
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 6:41 PM

    @Tom Quin: The Savanta ComRes poll wasn’t Carrie out for the RMT. Its funny how we only see what we want to see isn’t it Tom?

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Quin
    Favourite Tom Quin
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 8:11 PM

    @FiannaFáilness FineGaelness: It must be the only one then, an outlier. An online one rigged by activists probably.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute FiannaFáilness FineGaelness
    Favourite FiannaFáilness FineGaelness
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 8:41 PM

    @Tom Quin: The IPSOS one was equal support at 35% to opposition at 35%. Doesn’t show the British public detesting unions. The only reason the Tories do so well is because the Brits use FPTP elections. It’s well established UK Labour would come out on top with PR voting. So no the British people don’t hate the left.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Bourke
    Favourite David Bourke
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 9:51 PM

    @FiannaFáilness FineGaelness:

    Keeping in mind that, despite the name, YouGov is a private polling company founded by a conservative party member who is now a conservative party MP.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute FiannaFáilness FineGaelness
    Favourite FiannaFáilness FineGaelness
    Report
    Jul 29th 2022, 1:11 AM

    @David Bourke: Absolutely, good point that!

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rochelle
    Favourite Rochelle
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 4:25 PM

    They sabotaged their party from within with their revolt on Corbyn. It’s no wonder they’re a bit lost for direction these days when they promoted a fence sitter to party leader.

    117
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute DJ François
    Favourite DJ François
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 5:06 PM

    @Rochelle: With FPTP electoral system and a very hostile media, Corbyn was never going to get in.

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tim Dawson
    Favourite Tim Dawson
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 5:10 PM

    @Rochelle: Corbyn handed the Conservatives their biggest majority in donkeys years. He let Boris off the hook when he was suffocating to death through the pressure of brexit and a minority government. Corbyn showed the worst judgement of any leader in modern history when he agreed to that election. He then bombed out un the election campaign. He will be remembered as one of the worst Labour leaders in history. His decisions, scandals and his unprecedented unnecessary election defeat will ensure that.

    51
    See 11 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Quin
    Favourite Tom Quin
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 5:14 PM

    @Rochelle: Corbyn lost to a Tory landslide, the uk public do not want left wingers. Starmer is trying to win an election in the real world.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute FiannaFáilness FineGaelness
    Favourite FiannaFáilness FineGaelness
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 5:57 PM

    @Tim Dawson: Corbyn was utterly railroaded by the media.. Even the BBC photoshopped a Russian style hat onto him on their backgrounds. He was absolutely hounded out of his position. The recent report shows how much the New Labour (Blairite) side of the party and the NEC completely shoehorned him. 100′s of thousands of people joined the Labour Party because Corbyn was the leader and the NEC screwed that membership over.

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute FiannaFáilness FineGaelness
    Favourite FiannaFáilness FineGaelness
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 6:04 PM

    @Tom Quin: The UK public are too easily led by their right wing media barons.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Quin
    Favourite Tom Quin
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 6:14 PM

    @FiannaFáilness FineGaelness: the british public have only ever once voted for a socialist government that was after ww2. The media did not give Boris that huge landslide.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Quin
    Favourite Tom Quin
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 6:16 PM

    @FiannaFáilness FineGaelness: that’s very, very weak. you thinking the uk public are so thick because they did not vote for the guy you wanted them too is the sort of arrogance that switches people off the left.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Daniel Roche
    Favourite Daniel Roche
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 7:24 PM

    @Tim Dawson: To be fair he didn’t get the support of the higher up’s in the labour party,the papers were all against him,his own wanted him to fail,he was elected by the people on the ground in the labour party,not saying he was perfect but he never had a chance,look at the head of labour now.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Daniel Roche
    Favourite Daniel Roche
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 7:28 PM

    @Tom Quin: They voted for to leave the EU,yes they have a huge amount of badly informed people that believe lies and think the empire is still alive.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Quin
    Favourite Tom Quin
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 8:14 PM

    @Daniel Roche: No they just voted the way you didn’t like. It’s not a crime to leave the EU.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute FiannaFáilness FineGaelness
    Favourite FiannaFáilness FineGaelness
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 8:43 PM

    @Tom Quin: Who said it was a crime? Clearly you’re just a troll.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shedonny
    Favourite Shedonny
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 10:15 PM

    @Tim Dawson:
    I’d love to hear about the Corbyn scandals. Please provide the details

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Quin
    Favourite Tom Quin
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 10:19 PM

    @FiannaFáilness FineGaelness: So people who disagree with you are not just thick and gullible but also trolls?

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute alan
    Favourite alan
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 4:44 PM

    Forgetting that working conditions would still be in the dark ages if it wasn’t for Unions. This isn’t simply a matter of one mp not abiding by party protocols, starmer has been on the fence all along. His fear of the electorate and the right wing press could be considered cautious and prudent but not at the cost of handing everything to the Tories on a plate. Surely it is easy enough for him to highlight that transport issues are created initially by the govt and not by the unions?

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Quin
    Favourite Tom Quin
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 5:16 PM

    @alan: the brit public do not support unions and lefties like Corbyn. Starmer needs to win them over to get the Tories out and going full on Corbyn will give tories another landslide.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick Tobin
    Favourite Mick Tobin
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 3:45 PM

    Starmer must’ve thought, the Tories are ripping themselves apart with this leadership contest, we can do better than them!

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall Lee
    Favourite Niall Lee
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 6:16 PM

    Labour party for the working class there’s a joke

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe Vlogs
    Favourite Joe Vlogs
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 5:00 PM

    If I understand it correctly, he wasn’t sacked for supporting the strikers, but rather because he said it was Labour policy to advocate for a pay rise in line with inflation. Which would a) would make no economic sense – increasing wages in line with inflation will only lead to further inflation, and b) clearly would be a major policy proposal, and as such if someone just says it is the party position when it isn’t, that person should be sacked. Such a proposal is ludicrous, and would just give the Torries the chance to portray Labour as some kind of looney left part that would end up bankrupting Britain, hurting small business owners, etc. etc. Right now, Labour just need to sit back and quiet while the Torries destroy themselves.

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Shepherd
    Favourite Paul Shepherd
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 6:40 PM

    Always the same with Labour, when the Tories are on the ropes they proceed to shoot themselves in both feet. Fairly much unelectable as they’re perceived as differing factions all adopting opposing views. Should just split into three different parties and be done with it.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thisguy
    Favourite Thisguy
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 6:09 PM

    Starmer did the correct thing to sack him. What are all these whingers going on about?

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean McCartin
    Favourite Sean McCartin
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 10:23 PM

    Shouldn’t Labour ya know, be on the side of workers. I’m guessing that day has long since past since Tony Blair and ‘new Labour’. Moderate Tories in disguise

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mike
    Favourite Mike
    Report
    Jul 28th 2022, 6:11 PM

    Unable to govern themselves anymore over there…Maybe we should tie in with India and jointly go in to save(colonise) them and restore good governance … ;)

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nigel o'Neill
    Favourite Nigel o'Neill
    Report
    Jul 29th 2022, 8:06 AM

    Bye bye Keir

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas Linehan
    Favourite Thomas Linehan
    Report
    Jul 29th 2022, 9:32 AM

    Like our own labour party. Labour supposed to be pro worker.

    5
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds