271. Bessborough House, in County Cork (Ireland)

Children born outside marriage was regarded as shameful for the mother and her family, so the children were often sent to homes hidden from the local communities.

It seems that some of the children were used as guinea pigs in vaccine trials. Some of the children were hurt in the process. Some might even have died. It is not clear if that happened because for obvious reason records were not kept because people realized that it became a dark chapter of Irelands history.

It couldn’t have been fun to be there as a teenager, if a child made it that far in this home.

Sources:

• Children in Irish homes were used in vaccine trials (Essential Baby)
• Irish Care Home Scandal Grows As Children Revealed To Be Used As Vaccine Guinea Pigs (The Daily Beast)
• Mass Grave of Dead Babies in Ireland Used as Guinea Pigs for Pharmaceutical Company (Reader Support News)