Additional 36 infant remains recovered at Tuam site

An additional 36 infant remains have been recovered from the site of the former Mother and Baby Home in Tuam in Co Galway, as excavations continue.

It brings the total number of infant remains recovered from the location to 69.

In its latest update, the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention in Tuam (ODAIT) said results of the excavation indicated that the infants were buried in coffins which had since decayed.

According to the ODAIT, it is likely that the majority of coffins were "single shouldered with mounts" and had been painted white. In a small number of instances, "two or three individuals were buried in the same coffin".

The area in question is close to a memorial garden, where significant quantities of bones were found during an initial probe by the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, almost a decade ago.

It is described as a large feature or area, of over three metres in width and was identified in historical documents as a "burial ground", however, no surface markers indicated the presence of burials at the location.

According to the latest update, evidence indicates that some burials were disturbed in the creation of the feature through the use of a mechanical digger.

It says marks on the sides and base of the feature provide evidence consistent with the use of a mechanical excavator fitted with a toothed bucket and the feature was then backfilled with sand, gravel and building debris.

Aerial photography available indicates that the disturbance took place sometime after 1977, however, further excavation is expected to establish a more accurate timeframe.

The excavation work at the site began last July, 11 years after research by local historian Catherine Corless found there were no burial records for almost 800 infants and children who died at the institution.

An identification programme to establish the identities of those buried at the site is underway. A total of 33 family DNA samples have been delivered to Forensic Science Ireland.

The team will be taking more samples over the coming weeks in Ireland, the UK and the US.

It is encouraging anyone who believes they may have a family member buried at the site of the former Tuam Mother and Baby Institution to contact the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention in Tuam.

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