Remains of 10 infants discovered at former mother and baby home in Ireland | World News

The remains of a further 10 infants have been found at the site of a former mother and baby home in Ireland.

The excavation of St Mary’s mother and baby home in the town of Tuam, County Galway, is part of a drive to identify infants who died at the home between 1925 and 1961.

It has so far recovered the remains of 109 infants since it started in July last year.

The latest remains were discovered in coffins during a search of land which was excavated by hand by the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam (Odait) Forensic Excavation team.

It brings the total recovered at this specific part of the site to 32 infants and the total institutional human remains recovered on site to 109.

The excavation effort was paused to allow the team to erect a bigger tent and inspect the area up to and beyond the institution’s old boundary wall.

During this period, Odait collected 12 DNA samples and delivered them to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) for analysis – bringing the total number of bodies found to 74.

Other evidence discovered by the team included a button from a pit along with a metal window latch.

The group has urged anyone who believes they may have a family member buried at the site to come forward.

Its report added: “Forensic analysis is now under way in the recently opened forensic facility and mortuary, located close to the excavation site, in Tuam.

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“Forensic anthropologists are undertaking the analysis, ensuring all human remains recovered are examined with care and treated with dignity throughout the forensic process.”

In 2014, local historian Catherine Corless spearheaded research which suggested that 796 babies and young children were buried in a sewage system at the institution.

Then in 2017 “significant quantities” of child and infant remains were discovered in tanks in the memorial garden area of the site.