Mass Exhumation Begins for 796 Infants Buried in Tuam Septic Tank

Forensic teams have begun a long-awaited excavation at the former Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, County Galway, where nearly 800 babies and children are believed to be buried in a disused sewage tank. This mass exhumation follows the groundbreaking research by local historian Catherine Corless, who in 2014 uncovered records of 798 child deaths at the institution between 1925 and 1961, with only two children buried in a nearby cemetery. The home, run by Catholic nuns, housed unmarried mothers and their children, many of whom died from diseases like tuberculosis and pneumonia, reflecting harsh societal attitudes toward illegitimate children in mid-century Ireland. The excavation, expected to last up to two years, aims to identify the remains through DNA testing and provide a dignified reburial, offering hope and closure to survivors and families, including Annette McKay, whose infant sister is believed to be among the deceased. Despite initial silence and resistance from the local community, the operation marks a significant step in confronting Ireland's troubling history of systemic abuse in mother and baby homes. The site is now boarded up and located within a housing estate, symbolizing a painful legacy finally coming to light.