Authorities confirmed this morning that ‘significant quantities’ of human remains have been found at the site of the former mother-and-baby home in Tuam, Co. Galway.
The discovery follows a second round of excavations in the area, ordered by the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation.
According to the statement released by the organisation, the human remains were found in at least 17 of the 20 underground chambers analysed between October 2015 and this year.
“These remains involved a number of individuals with age-at-death ranges from approximately 35 foetal weeks to two-three years,” the statement read.
Statement from Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes re Tuam excavation pic.twitter.com/Dlb7kjoKNh
— Pat McGrath (@patmcgrath) March 3, 2017
“The stratigraphic survey which was conducted in October 2015 identified a particular area of interest, and identified a number of sub-surface anomalies that were considered worthy of further investigation.”
According to the Irish Times, Minister for Children Katherine Zappone has described the latest news as ‘very sad and disturbing’.
The Tuam Mother and Baby Home opened in 1925 and ran until 1961.
The Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation was instated after allegations that some 800 babies had died at the site.
