Residents meet Council over burial site
A SMALL number of residents from the Dublin Road and Tubberjarlath areas of Tuam attended a meeting with Galway County Council this afternoon to discuss the burial site at the Tuam Mother and Baby Home.
The Council organised a leaflet drop this morning (Friday) to some 200 homes in the vicinity of the Tuam Mother and Baby Home site ahead of the confirmation that a signifcant number of babies and young children's remains are buried at what is known locally as the Children's Graveyard.
The Council, who own the burial site, says the process of public consultation will now be drawn up regarding the future of the site. It's unknown as yet whether a full exhumation will be carried out.
The local authority confirmed that the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation has concluded its excavations of the site which continues to be secured by a hoarding.
Any consultation process will have due regard to the timeframe for the Commission to complete and report on the aspects of its investigation relevant to the site. The Commission's full report isn't due until February 2018.
It's understood that many residents in the area are reluctant to be drawn into the issue. Galway County Council says it's conscious of the concerns of the local residents and will continue to engage with them directly. The Council has also requested that the privacy of those living near the burial site be respected as it is a “difficult time” for those in the area.
Earlier today (Friday) the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation issued a statement stating that it is “shocked” by the discovery of a significant quantities of human remains during test excavations of the Tuam site. Testing on the remains show they were of babies and children aged from 35 foetal weeks to 2-3 years.
Radiocarbon dating of the samples recovered suggest that the remains date from the timeframe relevant to the o b peration of the Mother and Baby Home (the Mother and Baby Home operated from 1925 to 1961; a number of the samples are likely to date from the 1950s). Further scientific tests are being conducted.
The excavations began in October 2015 and a hoarding is still erected around the site known locally as the Children's Graveyard on Dublin Road.
The remains were discovered in one of two large structures found on the site. One of which was used for sewage containment. It hasn't been confirmed what the purpose was of the second structure where the remains were found.
The Commission says it is shocked by this discovery and is continuing its investigation into who was responsible for the disposal of human remains in this way. Meanwhile, the Commission has asked that the relevant State authorities take responsibility for the appropriate treatment of the remains. The Coroner has been informed.
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Katharine Zappone says the findings weren't “unexpected”.
“This is very sad and disturbing news. It was not unexpected as there were claims about human remains on the site over the last number of years.
“Up to now we had rumours. Now we have confirmation that the remains are there, and that they date back to the time of the Mother and Baby Home, which operated in Tuam from 1925 to 1961.”
The Minister said that we must respond sensitively and respectfully to the situation. She said that her Department had brought together all of the key Departments and agencies to set out a way forward.
The Commission will continue its work under its terms of reference, including such matters as post mortem practices and procedures, reporting and burial arrangements for residents of Mother and Baby Homes
The Coroner for North Galway will take the steps he deems necessary under his independent statutory functions.