Excavation efforts at the St Mary's mother and baby home in Tuam will commence with initial works that are expected to last for four weeks, paving the way for a full-scale excavation in mid-July. This two-year project aims to uncover the remains of children buried in a makeshift crypt, following revelations from historian Catherine Corless about 796 babies likely interred in a septic tank. The site's closure to the public and forensic controls underscore the sensitivity of the investigation that emerged after claims of neglect and systemic issues in mother and baby homes across Ireland.
The initial works on the long-awaited dig are set to take four weeks before the full-scale excavation gets under way in mid-July.
The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes found that "significant quantities of human remains" were buried in a sewage facility at the former mother and baby home.
Their causes of deaths included deformities, heart conditions, whooping cough and influenza, and their burial in a septic tank caused outrage across the world.
In 2017, the Commission's final report revealed up to 9,000 children died in similar circumstances in other religious-run institutions across the country.
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