'We don't want the babies dug up – we just want them recognised '

Caroline Crawford
Published 06/06/2014|02:30

The group who believes almost 800 babies were buried in a septic tank near a mother and baby home has urged the State not to unearth the remains.

Catherine Corless carried out a painstaking trawl of records in order to find the burial spot of the 796 babies who were born in or passed through the Bon Secours Mother and Baby home in Tuam.

However, she and the committee behind the discovery – the Home Graveyard Committee – hope the babies can be properly remembered without being moved from their gravesite.

"We want to see a plaque up and the grave finished but we don't want to see them dug up. We just want to recognise them," said John Lowe, a member of the committee.

Mr Lowe said the group would like to see the area concreted over to ensure no one else attempts to dig it up.

"We want to get it concreted because that would finalise it completely. We don't want to see them exhumed. The bishop said that would be an option, but we won't have that. They are going to be there and stay there, they are long enough there. We don't want them moved," he added.

His views were seconded by Ms Corless who said the committee simply wanted to see a plaque erected at the site.

Mr Lowe urged family members who wished to visit the grave to do so. "If people have anything to do with them, relations and such, let them come on the quiet and say a few prayers and move along.

"We're not going to interfere with them. We don't want to know that part of it. What we want to do is get them recognised and if I get that plaque up I'll be happy," he added.

Malnutrition
Ms Corless's research led to widespread condemnation of the treatment of the children who ranged in age from two days to nine years.

She told how she first heard of the grave from locals who were caring for it.

On investigation she discovered the children had been buried in a disused septic tank. When she requested the death records on all the children who passed through the home she was left staggered to hear that 796 records existed.

"I was absolutely astounded when I heard that. I said that couldn't be but she told me she had the death records stating they all died in Tuam," she added.

Among the tragic causes of death given for the children were malnutrition, measles, abscess of the scalp and even laryngitis.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said last night that Children's Minister Charlie Flanagan will appoint officials to investigate the scale of what is involved.

He added: "The Dail records themselves show references to inspections under the system that operated at health level way back in the 1930s."

Ms Corless said that when she researched if the babies could have been buried in other graveyards she could find no records among the existing records for Galway and Mayo graveyards.

"From the 796 names I picked out a group of children from each year and asked for a cross- check to see if there was any name in any of the cemetery books for the surrounding townlands.

"She came back to me a week later and said the list of names I gave her did not appear in any cemetery books."

Anyone who wishes to help fund the project can donate to the Children's Home Graveyard at St Jarlath's Credit Union, account number 12747355, sort code 903971.

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