Catherine Corless Thinks There Are More Children Buried in Mass Graves at Mother and Baby Homes

By Kathy Armstrong
Irish Mirror
March 10, 2017

http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/crime/catherine-corless-thinks-more-children-10005821

Historian Catherine Corless and the Tuam mass baby grave (Photo: Andy Newman)

There are more children buried at mass graves at mother and baby homes nationwide, Catherine Corless claimed last night.

The historian's meticulous research led to the discovery of the remains of up to 800 children at a septic tank at a home that was run by the Bon Secours nuns in Tuam, Co Galway.

She said: "I think there are many mass graves across Ireland at mother and baby homes.

"But I suppose Tuam felt a little bit worse, because it was in a sewage area."

She added: "I've always said even one child buried unknown is wrong, very wrong."

Ms Corless spoke about the horrific discovery on The Late Late Show on Friday night, where she looked overwhelmed as she received a standing ovation from the audience.

Catherine Corless at the boarded up site at Tuam Mothers and Babies home where there is now verified evidence of remains of a significant number of babies and young children being buried. (Photo: Ray Ryan)

She also commented on the pressure that was placed on families to send unwed pregnant women to these facilities.

She said: "There was a lot of arguments during the week that the parents put them in but my argument is, why did the parents put them in?

"We have to go back to Catholicism and because sex before marriage was a sin, a grievous sin, women were condemned if they got pregnant.

"I've met people whose mothers returned to their own homes and returning from the mother and baby homes and I've heard stories that the parish priest would call to their house and tell the parents that the woman was a bad influence on the village and would have to go."

Tuam Home Graveyard Committee

Ms Corless praised Children's Minister Katherine Zappone for her reaction to the revelations and the following calls for an inquiry into the scandal.

She said: "I was very shocked, not at the find, because I knew they were there but Children's Minister Katherine Zappone came out with a very honest, open statement and she didn't soften the truth."I was surprised at that and thought it was wonderful."