The Independent Panel is also investigating the pathways and practices related
to Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses in Northern Ireland. This includes, but is not limited to:
- the care system, fostering and adoption practices,
- related institutions such as ‘baby homes’,
- private nursing homes, and;
- cross-border and international transfers of women and children.
Private Nursing Homes
As part of the work of their work, the Independent Panel are investigating the issues of forced family separation leading to adoption, fostering or residential placement of a child in a number of contexts.
During the course of their work, they have become aware of other establishments including private nursing homes or private family domestic homes or residences where the child and mother were forcibly separated after birth.
So far, the Independent Panel has identified the following private nursing homes:
- Antrim House Nursing Home, 60 Cliftonville Road, Belfast
- Ardenlee Nursing Home, 356, Ravenhill Road, Belfast
- Atholl Nursing Home, 106 Antrim Road, Belfast
- Bayview Nursing Home, 2 Bayview Terrace, Derry / Londonderry
- Glandore Nursing Home, 106 Antrim Road, Belfast
- Ivanhoe Nursing Home, 35 University Road, Belfast
- Lisieux Nursing Home, 68, Clifton Street, Belfast
- Rosemount Nursing Home, 124 Antrim Road, Belfast
- Windsor Nursing Home, 411 Lisburn Road, Belfast
At this stage of their work, the Independent Panel does not have a full picture of whether all of the above establishments were used for either maternity cases or cases involving forced family separation. The Independent Panel has taken testimony from people who have shared their experiences of being impacted by private nursing homes.
The Independent Panel encourages anyone who has experience of, or knowledge about, forced family separation in private nursing homes or within a family / domestic residence to get in touch.