‘I Was Used as a Human Guinea Pig’: Mother and Baby Home Survivor Demands Justice for Children in Care - 25/08/2026

A survivor of a mother and baby home who was subjected to vaccine trials and sexually abused as a child says he is devastated that vulnerable children are still being failed by the State.Francis Timmons, who spent the first years of his life in Madonna House mother and baby home in Blackrock, Dublin, says there are serious concerns about the safety and stability of children currently in State care.It comes after figures revealed that more than 1,100 children in Tusla care were placed in unregulated emergency settings last year, while hundreds experienced multiple care placements. Internal records also show children in Tusla-run homes were reported missing almost 7,000 times between January 2020 and September 2025.Mr Timmons is now calling for urgent Government action to address what he describes as systemic failures in the care system. Francis joined us on The Agenda this morning to share his story and discuss his concerns. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.