Lorraine Clifford Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Last December, a stillborn baby girl was found wrapped in a cloth on a beach in Balbriggan. She was found by a passer-by and had been there for less than 24 hours. The local community named the child baby Belle. Despite numerous appeals for baby Belle's mother to come forward to receive the care and attention she needed, she did not come forward. We in north County Dublin took baby Belle into our hearts. We held a vigil for her and her mother to show love and compassion for both of them. The appeals for her mother to come forward continued, but unfortunately she did not do so. There was a huge outpouring of support and grief for the loss of baby Belle from our community. We were assured that once the coroner had done the appropriate investigations, baby Belle's body would be released to the local gardaí and the community. Fingal County Council undertook to provide a dignified and respectful burial for her to allow the community to embrace her. It was hoped that baby Belle's mother would come forward when she got over her grief and the grave would be a place for her to visit and heal.

Unfortunately, however, we found out via the media a couple of weeks ago that baby Belle had been buried at the angels' plot in Glasnevin Cemetery with no one but the gravedigger and an undertaker present. No funeral service took place and nobody from Balbriggan was present. We were not informed. That is where baby Belle now rests. Needless to say, this decision caused distress in Balbriggan and across north County Dublin because baby Belle and the situation her mother faced had an impact on all of us. They were both part of our community. We are deeply upset and we are grappling for answers as to why this happened. How did the coroner allow this to happen when it was made clear that Fingal County Council and a charitable foundation would provide for the funeral service, allowing the community to be involved and creating a space for baby Belle's mother to visit, in time, when she wanted to? I want to have this matter discussed. When I submitted it as a Commencement matter for discussion with the Minister for Justice and Equality it was ruled out of order.However, the people of Balbriggan need answers in that regard. The raw emotion being felt is still very real and we just want answers. We want to know why Baby Belle was not returned to us and buried within her community.