Tuam Home Residents Being ‘left in the Dark’

Galway Independent
March 1, 2017

http://www.galwayindependent.com/news/topics/articles/2017/03/01/4135783-tuam-home-residents-being-left-in-the-dark/

Former Tuam Home residents and their families are looking for answers, but are being left “in the dark” in relation to the investigation into the home, according to Tuam historian Catherine Corless.

An inquiry into the former Mother and Baby Home in the town is currently underway, with two excavations having been carried out on the site to determine whether children reported to have died at the home have been buried there.

The deadline for submissions to the Mother and Baby Home Commission of Investigation looking into the former Bon Secours institution is today, Wednesday 1 March, and Ms Corless, whose research led to the investigation, is encouraging people to contact the Commission.

The body has asked for anyone who lived or worked in the Tuam Home or in any of the 14 Mother and Baby Homes and four County Homes under investigation to contact them.

They also want to hear from people who have knowledge about the homes, family members of residents, regular visitors or those who supplied services to the homes.

“People are wondering that if they weren’t born there would they have any reason to apply,” said Ms Corless. “According to the terms and conditions, anyone with anything to do with the home, can ring in and leave a message. I would encourage people to be in before the door closes.”

The Commission has recently completed a second excavation on the site of the former Tuam Home, after first starting to dig there in October 2016. The latest excavation, which began on 30 January 2017 and lasted for three weeks, was conducted by a team of specialist archaeologists.

It would now be helpful if the Commission gave an update regarding the excavation works, according to Ms Corless.

“It is obvious that when the archaeologists came back a second time, they had to look further and dig deeper. We know there are tunnels under there. We need to find out what’s there.”

She added, “I called to the site but the archaeologists were under oath not to speak to anyone. I do think a little bit of information from the Commission as to whether the archaeologists will be back or if they are finished, would be very helpful to survivors.”

She added that some survivors have visited the site in recent times. “What they see is a boarded up area where the excavation works were happening inside. It is a bit unsettling for them to see this and to be left outside the loop altogether as to what is happening.”

The excavated area has been boarded up since last October, when the first excavation took place over a period of five weeks.

“It would be helpful to say what the dig is about. I can understand the need to be private but we are all in the dark with what is happening. This is the survivors’ stories. It is their hope. They really feel that they are being kept outside.”

“These people are hurt and living with their hurt all their lives. And they are still very much around. All they are looking for are answers,” she added.

The Commission has stated that the purpose of the excavation is to resolve a number of queries that they have in relation to the interment of human remains at the site, which is in the centre of a housing estate.

The Commission was set up in February 2015 to investigate the Tuam Home and other homes across the country. It is due to give its full report on its findings in February 2018, after being granted an extension of time last year. Three reports are expected to be delivered to the Minister for Children Katherine Zappone.

The investigation will look into the mortality rates of mothers and children in the institutions, the living conditions inside and arrangements for the entry of women into and exit from the homes.

It will also look at the post-mortem practices and procedures in respect of children and mothers who died while resident in these institutions.

It will look at the reporting of deaths, burial arrangements and the transfer of remains. It will also look at the procedures that were in place to obtain consent from mothers in respect of adoption.

The Commission state that their terms of reference do not allow them to assist any individual in resolving their identity or in tracing a birth relative. The Commission also has no power to award redress or compensation.

To contact the Commission, phone the Confidential Freephone number 1800-806 688, between 10am-1pm and 2pm to 4.30pm. For more information see www.mbhcoi.ie or email info@mbhcoi.ie