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A further ten infant remains have been recovered at the former St Mary’s Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, bringing the total number of institutional human remains recovered at the site to 109. The latest discoveries were made by the forensic excavation team working under the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam (Odait).
New recoveries in tent 2
The recent remains were uncovered by hand in a sector of the site labelled “tent 2”. Excavation records show these finds were made between 16 July and 30 September.
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Investigators say there was evidence consistent with coffins for all of the newly recovered infants. The material recovered in this area raises the number of infant remains found at this specific location to 32.
Scope and timeline of the work
The broader excavation and search operation began in July last year and is focused on locating and documenting the remains of infants who died at the home between 1925 and 1961.
In 2014, research led by local historian Catherine Corless reported that as many as 796 babies and young children may have been buried at the Co. Galway institution, a figure that has informed subsequent inquiries and forensic work.
Site logistics and evidence recovery
Recovery of all accessible remains within tent 2 has now been completed. Work has been paused to dismantle the current tent and erect a larger structure—referred to as tent 3—which will allow excavation to extend up to and beyond the old boundary wall as required by the forensic plan.
Archaeological and artefactual material from multiple historic periods continues to surface across the site, the team reports.
Legislative changes and family access
Officials from the Department of Children, Equality and Disability are working with the Office of the Attorney General to amend the Institutional Burials Legislation so that first cousins are included among eligible family members. The Bill to implement that change is expected to be published in the coming days before proceeding through the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Identification efforts
Odait has supplied an additional 12 DNA reference samples to Forensic Science Ireland, bringing the total number of reference samples collected to 74. Those samples will support ongoing efforts to identify the recovered individuals.
The excavation and associated legal and scientific work will continue in phases as teams complete site preparations and follow forensic requirements.
