Court Challenge to Irish Mother and Baby Inquiry

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Founder of the Irish First Mothers support group for adoption birth mothers, Kathy McMahon has today formally notified Irish government minister for Children and Youth Affairs, James Reilly of intent to challenge in the Irish High court the process of the recently-instituted 'Mother and Baby Homes' inquiry.

 The challenge is grounded in public statements by the Acting Secretary General (now Assistant Secretary) of the Department, Ms. Liz Canavan at the press announcement of the inquiry.

 The birth mothers group asserts that Ms.Canavan's senior roles in Irish civil service administration and as CEO of the Adoption Authority of Ireland, conflict with her potential oversight of the inquiry: via adjustments to it's terms of reference under the minister's order.

 The import is that the current process violates the legal dictum of "Nemo judex in causa sua," viz. that one cannot be judge in one's own case - and thus justice cannot be seen to be done.

 "I call people of good will towards birth mothers to assist us," says Kathy McMahon. "We cannot allow this already flawed inquiry to be further influenced by persons close to matters under investigation."

Read Irish First Mother's notice letter to Minister James Reilly:




Voice for First Mothers public facebook group:

130+ members - Birth Mothers



Profile on Kathy McMahon from the Journal.ie:



See Also:

Adoption Rights Alliance Briefing Note
on Minister's inquiry launch press conference:

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