‘Significant day' as pre-excavation work begins at Tuam mother & baby home site in bid to ID & rebury 796 remains
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The remains of 796 babies and children are believed to have been buried at the site
Credit: AFP
The prep phase, which will last around four weeks, comes ahead of the full-scale excavation of the site to try to identify the remains of
In 2014, research led by local historian Catherine Corless indicated the babies and young
The St Mary's home for unmarried mothers and their kids was run by the Bon Secours Sisters, a religious order of Catholic nuns.
In 2021,
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The Bon Secours Sisters also offered a 'profound apology' after acknowledging the order had 'failed to protect the inherent dignity' of women and children in the Tuam home.
Speaking about the work today,
'It's a very, very difficult harrowing story and situation. We have to wait to see what unfolds now as a result of the excavation.'
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She said: 'Survivors and relatives have suffered and been left in the dark for far too long, not knowing if their relative is amongst those placed in a disused septic tank.
'This uncertainty alone brings so much suffering.
Mass grave discovered at former Catholic orphanage in Tuam, Ireland
'I hope that this process will provide much needed answers and that as many children as possible will be identified and reburied in a respectful and appropriate way."
The work at the burial site, which is being undertaken by the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam (ODAIT), will involve exhumation, analysis, identification if possible, and re-interment of the remains at the site.
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The pre-excavation work includes the installation of a 2.4-metre hoarding around the perimeter.
24-HOUR MONITORING
The site will now be subject to security monitoring on a 24-hour basis to ensure the forensic integrity of the site during the excavation.
Ahead of the preparatory work, Daniel MacSweeney, who leads the ODAIT, described the planned excavation as 'unique and incredibly complex'.
One of Mr MacSweeney's main responsibilities will be to ensure any remains that are uncovered are re-interred in a respectful and appropriate way.
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ODAIT's Selina Brogan and survivor Peter Mulryan, whose sister died in the home, were present for the launch of the pre-excavation work.
The excavation is anticipated to last two years.
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Pre-excavation work on the site of a notorious former mother and baby home in Co Galway has begun.
Credit: PA
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