Archiving in Support of Truth Recovery

A PRONI team of archive specialists is currently gathering, cataloguing and digitising all surviving records pertaining to Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses in support of the Truth Recovery Programme, which is led by The Executive Office (TEO). 

This archival work feeds into research being carried out by the Truth Recovery Independent Panel and will assist the forthcoming Inquiry and Redress Scheme.

Group of ten people around a table with archival volumes and boxes. 2 of the group are sitting in red chairs and a large open window is in the background.
PRONI's Truth Recovery team and the Independent Panel viewing and discussing Workhouse records with TEO officials in our Reading Room, 2024.

The Truth Recovery investigation is considering issues of individual, institutional, organisational and state departmental/agent responsibility experienced in Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries, and Workhouses.

In addition, it is examining pathways and practices; including the adoption system; related institutions such as ‘baby homes’, private nursing homes, and cross-border and international transfers of children and women.

If you or a family member has been impacted by a Mother and Baby Institution, Magdalene Laundry, Workhouse or other related institutions in Northern Ireland, or impacted by historical adoption pathways and practices, you can contact the Victims and Survivors Service (VSS) for further information:

Call: 028 9031 1678
9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
Email: support@vssni.org
VSS website: www.victimsservice.org 

If you are aware of any documents which might be of interest to the PRONI Truth Recovery Records team, please contact: access@communities-ni.gov.uk.