Breaking: Remains found at Mother and Baby Home site in Tuam

Human remains have been found at the site of a former Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, Co Galway.

“These remains involved a number of individuals with age-at-death ranges from approximately 35 foetal weeks to 2-3 years,” said The Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation.

“Radiocarbon dating of the samples recovered suggest that the remains date from the timeframe relevant to the operation of the Mother and Baby Home. The homes ran from 1925 to 1961."

The site has been undergoing excavations to investigate sub surface anomalies that were considered worthy of investigation.

The commission have now confirmed that “significant quantities of human remains have been discovered” in a structure which appears to have once been some kind of sewage container or septic tank. 

Children's Minister Katherine Zappone said it was "very sad and disturbing news" in a statement. 

Pic: Niall Carson

 "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," she said.

Feature image: Niall Carson.