The admission came on the back of cases taken by two survivors, who claimed they were easily identifiable in the report.
The cases of Philomena Lee and Mary Harney were chosen to test the waters on behalf of a total of nine women, who each claimed they were easily identifiable in the final report by the Commission of Investigation into the mother-and-baby homes
During a two-day hearing last month, their barrister told the High Court that there was “an abundance of evidence that makes them readily identifiable to reasonably informed people.”
By law, the Commission of Investigation should have provided a draft report to those who can be identified in its findings before the final report was submitted.
Philomena and Mary are not named in the report and the State initially argued that they’re not identifiable in it, but it has now conceded that they were and it has acknowledged that their rights and the rights of the other women waiting in the wings were breached by the failure to provide them with a draft copy.
The State has also agreed to pay their legal fees.
