Tuam Mother and Baby Home Excavation to Begin with Search for 796 Children's Remains

The excavation of the Tuam babies site in Co Galway is set to begin on Monday, searching for the remains of 796 children who died at the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home between 1924 and 1961. The site was previously indicated to have no burial records, and a lack of information had suggested the children could be buried there. A multidisciplinary forensic team has been recruited for the excavation process, which is expected to take two years.

Excavation works at the Tuam mother and baby home site in Co. Galway are set to commence on Monday, June 16. The preliminary phase, which includes setting up security measures and installing a perimeter hoarding, will take four weeks. The full-scale excavation is expected to take approximately two years to complete.

The site, located within the Dublin Road estate, will be under 24-hour security monitoring and forensic control throughout the excavation process. The initial works aim to preserve the forensic integrity of the site, which has been cordoned off to prevent any unauthorized access.

The excavation is a significant step in uncovering the truth about the former Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home, which operated between 1925 and 1961. The home gained global attention in 2014 when local historian Catherine Corless revealed that up to 796 babies were likely buried in a makeshift crypt at the facility [1]. The causes of death included deformities, heart conditions, whooping cough, and influenza.

The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, established in 2017, found that "significant quantities of human remains" were buried in a sewage facility at the former home. The commission's final report, published in January 2021, revealed that up to 9,000 children died in similar circumstances in other religious-run institutions across the country [1].

The excavation is being overseen by the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam (ODAIT), which has briefed survivors and relatives about the timeline for the start of the works. The ODAIT has also planned a day for family members and survivors to view the site in the coming weeks.

The excavation process is described as "unique and incredibly complex" by Daniel MacSweeney, who leads the ODAIT. The final timeline for completion will depend on various factors that may only become clear as the work progresses [1].

References:
[1] https://www.independent.ie/regionals/galway/news/excavation-works-at-tuam-mother-and-baby-home-site-set-to-begin-next-week/a579623939.html