IRELAND
The Journal
THE NEWS THAT a significant number of human remains were discovered at the site of a former mother and baby home in Co Galway shocked people in Ireland and beyond when it emerged last month.
On 3 March, the Commission into Mother and Baby Homes said the remains were discovered in a structure that appeared to be “related to the treatment/containment of sewerage and/or wastewater” at the former site of a Bon Secours property in Tuam.
At the time, Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone said the “sad and disturbing news” confirmed 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.
TheJournal.ie has, under the Freedom of Information Act, obtained the correspondence between the commission and Zappone in the days before the news was made public.
‘The decisions need to be made urgently’
On 1 March, two days before the official announcement, commission chair Judge Yvonne Murphy wrote to the minister about the shocking discovery.
“The Commission members are shocked by what has been discovered and recognise that there are many family members and local residents who will also be very shocked.
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