Experts to inspect Tuam site where babies’ remains found

IRELAND
The Times (UK)

Ellen Coyne
June 2 2017
The Times

An inquiry into mother and baby homes could be extended to more sites, Katherine Zappone has said.

The children and youth affairs minister yesterday announced the international team of experts who will examine the site of the Tuam home where the remains of hundreds of babies were found earlier this year.

An excavation was carried out after Catherine Corliss, a local historian, gathered evidence alleging that 800 babies had been buried in chambers under the home.

Tuam is the only site where an excavation has been planned as part of a commission that is examining 14 mother and baby homes and four county homes, which were similar institutions. Campaigners have called for all religious institutions to be examined and for excavations to be planned at other institutions that may have had similar mass graves to Tuam. Women who had become pregnant outside of marriage lived in the homes run by religious orders.

Ms Zappone said that she was open to the idea of extending the commission’s terms of reference but was deferring making a decision until after the Dáil returned from its summer break.

“While the commission has stated that it is not seeking an extension to its present remit I have indicated that I am open to considering whether broader terms of reference would help to answer some of the questions which have been raised again in public debate. I will consult with stakeholders as part of the scoping review I propose to undertake over the summer months,” Ms Zappone said in the Dáil yesterday.

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