The Kerry Babies Case

A case I'm aware of where a young woman, early 20's, put on a bit of weight and was sent away to "stay with an aunt" for 6 months.

She gave birth to a child who was taken away " to be cared for" 2 days later she was told her baby died. Her daddy came to pick her up.

She went back to work and life went on, she never married or had any more children. It was never mentioned again.

Until she died in her in her 60's. She was outlived by her 2 older sisters who it turned out knew about her 'sin' almost from day one.

...........

A 17 year old concealing her pregnancy from everyone while staying at home is hard to believe.

Was she living at home? Was she still at school ? Did she drop out of school? Did her friends wonder about her?

She had an older brother, was he living at home? Other siblings, sisters? were they older than her? Were they living at home?

In 1984, especially after charges against Joanne Hayes were dropped, people would have begun to wonder.

This was huge news, nationally and internationally and gossip and rumours would have been rife.

Or maybe Baby John's mother was sent away to "stay with a relative" for 6 months and came back with unwanted baggage?

I'd say very probable as opposed to possible.

They lived with the lie.

Sure the nuns probably thought you could "catch the pregnant" from staying too long in the same room as her...

Strange how the gardai have gone utterly silent on this now.

Not even a scintilla of a leak.

What are they waiting for?

Or is it a case of Blue Glue?

Gone very quiet alright. Whatever about the killing of the poor child and the prospect that the person responsible is deceased, there must surely be others associated who knew or deeply suspected and who kept quiet while the Hayes were put through the wringer. For me personally, that is the greater sin. The killing of the child could have been a moment of madness, deeply regretted afterwards. But keeping schtum and letting others take the rap took deliberate thought at the time and over the years since. Shame on them forever.

And park your car at the gate of the graveyard in the dead of night? You'd be quicker walking anyway.

About the tide bringing the corpse "back"; I've edited my post now to reflect the fact that it might have gone into the sea elsewhere.

"On bullet point number 2, the persons responsible for the reprehensible treatment of the Hayes family, are the agents of the state and them alone."

and hopefully an agent of the state didn't remain silent and pervert the course of justice.

"who really could seriously blame the couple or wider family from closing-ranks?"

I would imagine carrying the burden of that secret and knowing the trauma you were inflicting on a totally innocent family might have been a greater life burden. I find it hard to sympathise with the family on this part.

Im sorry I dont agree. I think this couple should face some consequences for their part in this. The message that it is ok to cover up a crime in order to maintain social appearances would set a very dangerous precedent. They covered up the murder of their child! Whatever the circumstances of Baby Johns murder this couple would have had to have known that this was or could be their baby and they kept this a secret. It would seem they had no intentions of ever revealing it. No interntions whatsoever of giving baby John an identity.

Also if they had come forward there would have been no ''witch hunt'' of Joanne Hayes, no so called tribunal and Joanne Hayes and her family would have led a completely different life. Yes the gardai were to blame but this couple had the power to stop this.

I am not saying they should go to jail but there should be legal consequences for them.

I don't believe any women suffering a severe case of postpartum has been treated with anything other than compassion in Ireland, let alone flung in jail for same.

There were medical people and Garda authorities outside the local district they could have liaised with at some stage to right the wrong. Like I say, at some stage, after the rawness of what happened and time for calm reflection.

No one is looking for pitch forks.

Personally, I could not have lived with the lie especially insofar as it affected innocent parties.

Two wrongs don't make a right.

This man has shown love compassion and care for baby John from the very start. He gVe jhim his name, provided and maintained his grave and headstone. He ensured this baby was cared for in death, if not in life. We owe him a huge thank you on baby Johs behalf.