The remains of 10 infants were recovered from a burial ground attached to the former Mother and Baby Home in Tuam during the past three months, the latest technical update on the ongoing excavation works at the site have revealed.
The Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention Tuam (ODAIT ) provides bimonthly reports on the excavation, which began at the 0.48 Ha site on the Dublin Road in the town last year.
The latest update, released on Friday, covers the period from July 16 to September 30. The burials found during this time bring the total number of human remains recovered from the site to date to 109 individuals.
All 10 sets of remains excavated during the most recent period were found with evidence of having been coffined.
Forensic excavation of the site is continuing, and investigators have significantly expanded the area under examination, which will allow ODAIT to excavate the entire area up to and beyond the old boundary wall of the institution’s grounds.
All excavations are being carried out under tents to protect the dignity of the people buried at the site.
Forensic analysis is now underway in the recently opened Forensic Facility and Mortuary, located close to the excavation site. Forensic anthropologists are undertaking the analysis, ensuring all human remains recovered are examined with care and treated with dignity throughout the forensic process.
Further artefacts have also been uncovered, providing evidence from all historic periods during which the site was occupied. These include buttons and a metal window latch, both recovered from the area around the exterior of a subsurface vaulted structure; the interior of this structure was excavated earlier this year.
Relatives invited to join identification programme
Meanwhile, the Identification Programme team are continuing to engage with families to assist them in their application process for inclusion in the programme.
This programme aims to identify the people whose remains have been found at the site using DNA analysis. Family members of people believed to have died at the Mother and Baby Home are being invited to provide DNA samples for use in this identification work.
As part of the next steps to amend the Institutional Burials Legislation to include first cousins as eligible family members, officials in the Department of Children, Equality and Disability worked with the Office of the Attorney General to prepare the necessary amendments.
The Bill has now been brought to Government and is expected to be published in the coming days, following which it will proceed through the Houses of the Oireachtas as part of the legislative process.
During the latest reporting period, ODAIT collected an additional 12 DNA reference samples which have been delivered to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI ). This brings the total number of DNA reference samples taken to 74.
ODAIT is encouraging anyone who believes they may have a family member buried at the site to get in contact. The ODAIT team is available answer any questions and help guide relatives through the process.
Family members are invited to call +353 (0 )1 539 1777, email [email protected] or visit www.odait.ie for more information.
ODAIT also plans to launch a public information campaign on the identification programme next month.
