Total of 29 allegations of abuse in mother and baby homes in North

A total of 29 allegations of physical and sexual abuse involving mother and baby homes and Magdalene laundries have been made to police in the North.

The reports of criminal activity been made by people who were adopted from different named institutions, and also from some employees and residents, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said.

They have all come forward since a police investigation into the homes was launched in October.

It followed the publication of a report which recommended a public inquiry be held to investigate homes, laundries and workhouses in Northern Ireland.

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The police said on Monday they believe there are others who were victims of abuse in the homes, or who witnessed criminal activity take place, but have not yet spoken to them, and have appealed for them to do so.

Some of these individuals may no longer live in Northern Ireland, and the PSNI has set up a social media campaign to target people now living in Britain, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Everyone who has come forward has been spoken to by a specialist detective from the Historical Child Abuse Unit and has been offered the opportunity to have their account recorded so that a criminal investigation can take place, the PSNI said.

Maria Cogley, from the Truth Recovery Group, which has been working with police investigators, said a number of their members had "made statements to the team reporting past criminality or to establish whether criminality occurred in relation to their experiences.

“Establishing potential criminality is imperative, either during individuals’ confinement in one or more of the many types of NI institutions or as babies, now adults, born from an institution in Northern Ireland and subsequently adopted through coercive methods, fostered or boarded out or sent to institutions specifically for children.

“Truth Recovery NI is actively encouraging survivors to contact the investigative team,” she said.

Detective Superintendent Gary Reid said police "don't want anyone to feel they have to suffer in silence anymore and we will continue to do all we can to reach as many people with this message as possible.

“If you were the victim of abuse in these homes or know somebody who was, or if you witnessed criminal activity take place, please contact us,” he said.

“We care about what you have to say, will listen and support you, and will act to keep you and others safe.”

A report published by academics at Queen’s and Ulster universities in January found 10,500 women were admitted to mother and baby institutions and about 3,000 women to Magdalene laundries in the North between 1922 and 1990.

Women in the institutions were ill-treated, held against their will and forced to give up their babies, with at least 550 babies sent across the Border for adoption.

Anyone wishing to contact the dedicated Mother and Baby Homes and Magdalene Laundries Investigative Team can email: MotherBabyHomes.Magdalenelaundries@psni.police.uk or phone

02890 901728 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) or call 101 outside of office hours.