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Updated 6.35pm
THE COMMISSION OF INVESTIGATION into Mother and Baby Homes has discovered a significant number of human remains in what appears to be a decommissioned sewage chamber in Tuam.
The Commission has completed two test excavations of the Galway site and today confirmed that “significant quantities of human remains have been discovered” in a structure which appears to be “related to the treatment/containment of sewerage and/or wastewater”.
The structure where the remains were found is long and divided into 20 chambers. The Commission is not yet clear if it was ever used for sewerage or wastewater.
There were remains found in at least 17 of the 20 chambers. A small number of the remains were recovered for testing. A scientific analysis has put the ages of the deceased at between 35 foetal weeks to two to three years old.
Radiocarbon dating suggests that they are from the time the Bon Secours home was in operation between 1925 and 1961. A number of the samples are likely to be from the 1950s.
A second structure discovered during excavations between November 2016 and February this year appeared to be a decommissioned septic tank which had been filled with rubble and debris and then covered with topsoil.
In a statement, the Commission said it is “shocked by the discovery” and its investigation is continuing “into who was responsible for the disposal of human remains in this way”.
State authorities have been asked to take responsibility for the appropriate treatment of the remains and the North Galway Coroner has been informed. He will determine if there is to be any garda involvement in further investigations.
Speaking today, Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone said the “sad and disturbing news” confirms rumours about the possibility of a mass grave at the site.
“Today is about remembering and respecting the dignity of the children who lived their short lives in this Home. We will honour their memory and make sure that we take the right actions now to treat their remains appropriately,” she added.
Decisions have yet to be taken on whether more excavations will be required at other mother and baby home sites.
The Commission was established following a 2014 report in the Irish Mail on Sunday that 800 children died in the home and were interred in a mass grave.
Local historian Catherine Corless has spent years researching the home, even obtaining death certificates for each child who died there, in the hope of rectifying an injustice.
In a statement today, the Bon Secours order said:
“The Bon Secours sisters are fully committed to the work of the Commission regarding the mother and baby home in Tuam. On the closing of the Home in 1961 all the records for the Home were returned to Galway County Council who are the owners and occupiers of the lands of the Home. We can therefore make no comment on today’s announcement, other than to confirm our continued cooperation with and support for the work of the Commission in seeking the truth about the home.”
Call for identification
The Adoption Rights Alliance (ARA) and Justice for Magdalenes Research (JFMR) said that they were saddened by the news.
They said that Tuam “is not an isolated case” and reiterated their call for an expansion of the Commission’s Terms of Reference to include all institutions, agencies and individuals that were involved with Ireland’s unmarried mothers and their children, and to include investigations of burial practices at all of these locations.
They said that they want the government to ensure that all children who died in Tuam,a nd all children and adults who died in institutional care or custody, are identified.
In addition, they urged an Garda Siochána to establish its own investigation, independent of the Commission of Investigation, into abuse, neglect and illegal separations of mothers and children in Mother and Baby Homes, County Homes, maternity hospitals, and through adoption agencies and similar entities.
They added:
We reiterate our concerns that the Commission’s Terms of Reference are not comprehensive enough, and stress that Tuam is but one institution in an ad hoc and almost entirely unregulated, State-funded system which had responsibility for the care of unmarried mothers and their children. Today’s disturbing statement from the Commission underscores that the State failed in its ‘duty of care’ towards these children and their mothers.
In the context of these revelations, and in the public interest, we also reiterate our call on Minister Zappone to publish the Commission’s second interim report without delay.
With reporting by Aoife Barry
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Don’t know about the Cabinet but there is going to be some reshuffle in the Local and European elections
I think you are wrong based on polls FG support is still very strong. God knows why obviously we have stupid voters.
I think the people who want to give the government a kicking won’t make the effort to go and vote. Praying I am wrong.
Shatter, Hogan and O’Reilly need to be shuffled out of government sooner rather than later
Yes Jack I agree – but rather then moving the deck-chairs around The Titanic , wouldn’t a General Election be a much better option ? So as to remove these FG/Lab. buffoons from the stage altogether ?
Unfortunately it’s because the alternatives aren’t any better
The Anti Austerity Alliance is offering an alternative to the failed neo liberal policies of FF, FG & Labour and are running 41 candidates in the local elections in May.
Here’s what we stand for:
• Abolition of the Property / Home Tax. No to Water taxes, metering & to privatisation and profiting from water.
• Defend our council & public services. No more cuts or erosion of workers’ pay & conditions.
• Our Councillors will not go into coalitions or make deals with the austerity Parties (FF, FG, LP) & will not participate in junkets or the gravy train.
• We support a united movement of all those affected by home taxes & austerity. We oppose divisions based on race, nationality, gender or age.
• End the bailouts of banks & bondholders. No to all Austerity – ordinary people have paid enough
• Tax the Wealthy as the alternative to austerity: For progressive taxation on the wealthy and corporate sector.
• Public investment to create jobs, stop emigration and provide housing and socially useful infrastructure.
• Planning for the community, not for developers or vested interests.
• For mortgage debt write-down to real house values to keep struggling families in their homes. The banks should be run in the public interest & to assist in economic recovery.
• Save our health, education and social services – reverse the cuts and restore staff levels.
Well in fairness, what are the other options? Fianna Failure or Sinn Fein/IRA? At least there are clear steps in the right direction with the economy in the last 3 years. As opposed to the “We have turned a corner” bull from Brian Linehan in 2011.
I would commend all points except for the mortgage write down. I would much prefer a debt to equity swop with the banks.
JJ, the governments policy since they came into power has just been to follow FFs original plan.
@JJ: You’re right .. instead of “we have turned a corner” we have Enda and co STILL blaming FF 3 years later!
And don’t get me wrong, FF deserved the result they got and should never see power again, but while they may have ruined the country, FG and co sealed the deal in the dead of night while forcing legislation through our so-called democratic parliament (which is reality is far from it thanks to the whip system) and presiding over their own version of corrupt, incompetent “leadership” – or have you missed Shatter and the Gardai’s antics in the last few months, Reilly’s strokes with the primary care locations, Hogan’s.. well, Hogan just seems to attract controversy whenever he steps out the door!
Then we have the Property Tax that Kenny claimed (in opposition of course!) was an unjust tax, water charges for services we already pay for in general taxation, the so-called broadcasting tax which is also another tax on services (seeing as we already pay VAT on them), and of course the UHI which is very vague on details but which we’ll apparently ALL have to pay regardless of ability to pay.
This is the government/shower you’re promoting? An arrogant but weak primary school teacher and his cohorts who think they can appear on the TV and condescend/lecture us like children?! I’ll give Kenny one thing though – as bad as Cowen and Bertie were (and they were bad!), Kenny has brought the office of Taoiseach to a whole new low and must surely be a candidate for the worst one we’ve had yet!
You can reshuffle the pack but unless you take the jokers out it’s really not worth playing along!!
Who gives a siht ,the have all betrayed our country ,arrest them all ,charge them with treason ,no bail,seize all of their assets,revoke their judas pensions .Ireland Will Default and Depart this monster EU ,anyone watch the debate in england,Farage was brilliant,its time to GIVE IRELAND BACK TO THE IRISH ,OUR COUNTRY IS NOT FOR SALE
down with the union!
Every day they let shatter stay shows all politics for the sham it is …. also anyone who supports shatter should also go
Anyone who voted for Alan Shatter should be exiled to Spike Island… You know who you are!!
No leave as is and the reshuffle will come in the ballot box
And have Fianne Fail back?
I hear u Jer. but that’s up to the people to decide a reshuffle won’t fool the electret
**electorate. Hopefully in 2016 we get a government who is not FG or FF lead.
A reshuffle wont make a blind bit of difference it will still be the same old corrupt FG Lab coalition
The poll should have asked is it time for a change of government as an option.
I laughed so hard when I seen this poll. FG in power is a disaster. Broken promises controversy every week. They need to go rather than re shuffle. Watching FG is like watching a train crash in slow motion.
To be fair, FG in power is a lot better than FF in power. I don’t agree with a lot of their politics, but someone had to clean up Fianna Fåil’s mess from the 3 terms they had in government. I am shocked as to how many people support both FG and FF in opinion polls, both about 21-25%, which is ridiculous, seeing as both are arguably what is wrong with this country.
What’s the point, it’s just taking one useless person and putting him in another usless persons position until people realise that the new useless person is actually useless and needs to go too, so then you get another useless person and shift the 2nd useless person into another position and the 3rd useless person takes over for the 2nd useless person until the 3rd useless person is eventually found out to be useless too.
Don’t worry kenny and gilmore, there’s a re-shuffle on it’s way.
Enda Kenny couldn’t organise a piss up in a Brewery..
The fact that he even manages to dress himself is a miracle ….
Enda is a sharp as a fcuking razor don’t be fooled
Yes and moribound duty is to get rid of shatter
Nope not for a while or they are giving into the pressure groups. Can’t be seen to do that
Hogan, Reilly and Shatter should go. If Kenny wants to save face at all he needs to take action against ministers who are either inept or their position has become untenable. I think those three fit the bill.
O’Reilly, Hogan and Shatter are grossly incompetent and should resign.
I’d settle for them being relegated to the back benches, as being fired/resigning is too much to ask for.
The lot of them need to go!!
A reshuffle is like giving a school boy a spension instead of expelling him. Shatter needs to go end of.
This beating around the bush is head wrecking.
Yes. Fine Geal seem to be basing their support loyalty and not fitness for purpose. Exactly the type of nepotistic approach they claim to despise. Confidence is lost and conclusions need to be drawn and acted on.
Will not make an ounce of difference, anyway Kenny will do what senior civil servants and big business want. I’d be very shocked if I heard he was a decision maker in government.
A reshuffle might make this lousy lot look better but what’s the point of reshuffling a marked deck?!
There’ll be a proper reshuffle from me at the local elections next month.
Labour blew it ….. They should have sat tight they could have been the peoples party but they hung onto an incompetent antiquated dinosaur gravy train instead of standing up for the people they took the grey haired short term line the pockets head to Europe self serving greed stance with the status quo roll on election time scandal riddled politics been the norm now in this country hard to see real leaders with the people come first motto ….
Sorry but u can’t resist this!!
Enda Kenny spotted in IKEA looking for a new cabinet.
Just get rid of Kenny, Shatter, Big Phil, Gilmore and Rabbite and the rest are capable of doing a reasonable job
Too many old guard at the helm .
When the rehuffle comes, we’ll probably see some older cabinet members retired – Rabbitte, Quinn, Noonan. Burton is also over 65, but may just hang on.
Phil Hogan is a strong candidate for the EU commissioner position.
Well Leo Varanker isdefinitely angling tor something – Dame Enda better sort him out or he might feel a bit of cold steel between the shoulder blades
Varadkar seems to ne angling for Health.
It’s a great place to kill a political career.
YES out the door .
it’s time for new general elections because the current corrupt government are convinced they’ll be let drag us all down until april 2016!!
http://www.peoplescandidates.ie for those who prefer to vote independent in the upcoming elections.
Shuffle them all out the back door.
He should reshuffle them to a desert island.
The government needs to reshuffle itself off down along the street and to never come back
It’s time for a new government, not a switch up!
Joan Burton will get Alan’s job and Leo will get Joan’s.
Vincent Browne will have new material to regurgitate !!!!
No the two issues are not linked. The Dáil is now entering an election cycle anyway.
Makes more sense to decouple issues. A new appointment would be quickly drowned in potential waves of revelations. It makes more sense, if we want the cabinet to be able to get back to work, to leave Shatter to sink or swim until vacancies are made post Euro elections.
Unfortunately, the Directly Elected Mayor debacle means a heavy hitter from Dublin cannot be purged from cabinet now. One Commissionership is up for grabs, there may be one or two put out to pasture, the ceann comhairle could be rotated.
I suppose you some up this cabinet by saying: when all is said and done, more is said than done.
Dissolve the government
I think they were going to do so anyway after May with Brian Hayes likely to take a Euro seat in Dublin.
Needs to be freshened up.
Hayes is only a junior minister.
More likely we’ll get a reshuffle when they appoint a new commissioner who is likely to be an existing cabinet member.
If Alan shatter is gone… Some other gobshin will take his place and this time next week there will be some other TD in the news having not done his job properly.. They don’t get sacked they get voted out with a massive pension.. TD’s win win situation no matter how they do there job!!
I’d prefer he visit the Aras or failing that Enda should be ousted as FG leader and a new non ex teacher put in his place.
There is definitely a reshuffle coming but I can’t see anyone else in Justice.
Waste of time. They should all just resign.
Rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic
Makes absolutely no difference… The system is broken, no matter who is in charge…
I don’t understand this notion about reshuffling the cabinet or why its being suggested.at all. The whole cabinet including Kenny should consider resigning and not reshuffling.
All of them can shuffle their way out of power full stop.
Who gives a teeny rat’s pattuti what Senator Ronan Mullen thinks? The grim reality is that no matter how one rearranges the deck chairs on the titanic the ship is still going down. Away with this nonsense.
Yes definitely , and his first job would be to reshuffle shatter right out
Reshuffling the cabinet must be combined with removing the problems and it must be done before they do anymore damage. ..those problems come in the guise of three ministers…they are Alan Shatter. .Phil Hogan and James O’Reilly …they must be removed from government NOW
Voted Yes, then realised I was on the same side as Ronan Mullah.
D’oh!
Lets reshuffle and get rid of the bad, and Reshuffle Honest and Good politicians” right now it will not work if the Bad politicians like Mr. Shatter is allowed to remain in, and other politicians like O Reilly and More who are Running A gimmick flawed Political Corrupt State Regime,
Why would anybody sign in to a poll to vote “I don’t know”
Whatever about a reshuffle ?—-I wish they would all shuffle off. But then our political gene pool is lacking a lot of the grey matter between the ears and keep on repeating themselves –whoever gets in. Who to vote for as an alternative?
Never mind a reshuffle, most of them can do the truffle shuffe
It won’t happen until we’ve appointed our next EU commissioner.
Regardless, it shouldn’t happen now anyway. If it was done now, the Taoiseach would be reacting to a situation rather than setting his own agenda. That’s not good for long-term planning and government is a 5 year business.
Stop trying to make “gate” happen!!
who cares. Shuffling S**t won’t change the fact that its s**t.
Taoiseach in a pensive mood, trying hard to remember his name
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