Officials in Ireland have started excavating the site of the former Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, County Galway, to identify the remains of around 800 infants and young children who died there. The home, run by Catholic nuns until its closure in 1961, housed unmarried women and their babies, many of whom died and were buried without proper records.
Historian Catherine Corless uncovered death certificates for nearly 800 children from the home dating from the 1920s to 1961 but found only one burial record. Subsequent investigations revealed a mass grave in an underground sewage structure, with DNA confirming ages from late gestation to 3 years.
A broader inquiry found that approximately 9,000 children died across 18 mother-and-baby homes in Ireland, often from respiratory infections and gastroenteritis.
The order of nuns running the Tuam home has issued a “profound apology” for failing to protect the dignity of the women and children. Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin called it a “harrowing” situation.
The excavation, led by Daniel MacSweeney, is complex, and a memorial garden on-site will be closed during the work. Forensic experts will analyze remains, returning identified remains to families and ensuring respectful burial for those unidentified.
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