The 30 year anniversary of the death of Michael Hess, who died on August 15th 1995, was marked last week by the two leading campaigners for justice for survivors and for a complete investigation into the whereabouts of the remains of children who died in the former Sean Ross Mother and Baby Home - Roscrea man Michael Donovan and Teresa Collins, who was born in the former mother and baby home.
The story of Michael Hess and his mother Philomena Lee was documented in the blockbuster film 'Philomena' and continues to touch people around the world and focuses on the story mirrored by countless survivors in their campaign for justice.
The We Are Still Here survivors group regularly host people who wish to visit the site of the former facility, located on the expansive St. Anne's campus north of Roscrea town and where the main building, Corville House, is currently privately owned and repurposed as an international protection accommodation centre.
The site where the underground structure the group want excavated is described as a concrete tank located adjacent to the Angel's Plot burial ground where the remains of an unknown number of infants who died in the facility are located.
They believe the maps of the site are inaccurate and that anomalies detected by subterranean scans last year demand further investigation. They want the maps corrected and the tank investigated for remains in an attempt to establish the burial site of an estimated 1,090 infants.
In their report the Department for Children said a commission of investigation found that it is “not possible” to say whether all of the children who died at Sean Ross Abbey are buried in the Angels Plot and that it “did not consider that further investigation was warranted”.
The Roscrea home was operated by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary between 1931 and 1969.
During that time, 6,414 women were admitted there, and 6,079 children were born or admitted.