She was speaking following a meeting of the Executive Office Committee at the Assembly, which heard from some families of those buried in unmarked graves in Milltown Cemetery, as well as archaeological expert Toni Maguire.
Ms Egan’s colleague Nuala McAllister MLA had previously called for an urgent halt to ongoing work in the cemetery, after revealing her mother had been informed a stillborn son and twins she lost during pregnancy could have been buried in the baby graves.
It’s thought that those buried in such graves could include stillborn children, those also from mother and baby institutions in Belfast, and many others who were not afforded a burial in normal circumstances.
“Today’s Committee session comes in the wake of evidence burials in unmarked graves in Milltown Cemetery were being disturbed by the Catholic Church’s management company,” said Ms Egan.
“It was important to hear directly from the families impacted, as well as Toni Maguire, on the direct impact this matter is having on them. They have been raising the issue repeatedly, alongside my colleague Nuala McAllister, and it is crucial they receive both the support needed to continue doing that and the answers they are seeking.
“Given the Executive Office is currently writing the terms of reference for an inquiry into mother and baby institutions, it is vital it also includes protection of records of burials in these unmarked graves. Today’s evidence session was a clear sign these are difficult memories of painful times for people, and they deserve the right to have their loved ones rest in peace.”
Ms Egan’s colleague Nuala McAllister MLA had previously called for an urgent halt to ongoing work in the cemetery, after revealing her mother had been informed a stillborn son and twins she lost during pregnancy could have been buried in the baby graves.
It’s thought that those buried in such graves could include stillborn children, those also from mother and baby institutions in Belfast, and many others who were not afforded a burial in normal circumstances.
“Today’s Committee session comes in the wake of evidence burials in unmarked graves in Milltown Cemetery were being disturbed by the Catholic Church’s management company,” said Ms Egan.
“It was important to hear directly from the families impacted, as well as Toni Maguire, on the direct impact this matter is having on them. They have been raising the issue repeatedly, alongside my colleague Nuala McAllister, and it is crucial they receive both the support needed to continue doing that and the answers they are seeking.
“Given the Executive Office is currently writing the terms of reference for an inquiry into mother and baby institutions, it is vital it also includes protection of records of burials in these unmarked graves. Today’s evidence session was a clear sign these are difficult memories of painful times for people, and they deserve the right to have their loved ones rest in peace.”