TL:DR – More Infant Remains Discovered at Mother and Baby Home: Latest News in the UK
- Recent excavations at the former mother and baby home in Tuam, County Galway, have uncovered 22 additional infant remains, bringing the total to 33 since July.
- The site is investigating the burial of infants from 1925 to 1961, based on earlier research indicating 796 children were interred there.
- ODAIT plans to build a replica of the sewage system to refine excavation methods.
- They are also processing family DNA samples to assist in identification efforts surrounding these infant remains.
More infants remains are found at the site of a mother and baby home | News World
Photo from the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention Tuam (ODAIT) shows a well shaft which has been dug (Credits: ODAIT/PA Wire)
### Remains Found at Former Mother and Baby Home in County Galway
Several more remains of infants have been found at the site of a former mother and baby home in County Galway. A further 22 sets have been found at the site in Tuam, meaning the total number of remains uncovered by the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention Tuam (ODAIT) since it began work at the site in July is now 33. The excavation of the site of St Mary’s mother and baby home in Tuam is attempting to identify the remains of infants who died at the home between 1925 and 1961.
### Historical Context of the Findings
In 2014, research led by local historian Catherine Corless indicated that 796 babies and young children were buried in a sewage system at the Co Galway institution across that time period. All remains are of infants that were buried in coffins during the period of operation of the mother and baby home between 1925 and 1961, according to the ODAIT’s opinion following radiocarbon dating.
The excavation of the site of St Mary’s mother and baby home in Tuam is attempting to identify the remains of infants who died at the home between 1925 and 1961 (Credits: ODAIT/PA Wire)
### Investigation of Burial Ground
These remains were found in part of the area labelled as ‘burial ground’ in historical documents referenced by the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation (MBHCOI). The ODAIT said it believes a further seven sets of human remains from the area adjacent to the boundary wall were buried during the Workhouse era of the site (1841 to 1918).
This is a partial replica of the subsurface multi-chambered tank (Credits: ODAIT/PA Wire)
### Methodologies in Excavation
Meanwhile, the team is constructing an artificial replica of the historic sewage system at the site to test different methodologies. It said the excavation of the comingled infant remains identified during the 2016/2017 excavations in the subsurface concrete chambers in the Memorial Garden presented a ‘unique combination of forensic and engineering challenges.’
Forensic officers are seen working at the site (Credits: ODAIT/PA Wire)
### Advancements in DNA Sampling
To test varying methodologies and ensure adherence to international standards and best practice, the ODAIT is constructing an above-ground replica of a section of the tank. Since the last update, eight more family reference DNA samples have been taken and delivered to Forensic Science Ireland – bringing the total to 28. The team is engaging with a further 175 people who have contacted ODAIT to inquire about providing a DNA sample. To date, over 65 cases are being processed for determination of eligibility, with arrangements being made to take their samples in the coming weeks.