Ireland begins exhumation at former Catholic-run home after discovery of mass child grave

Ireland begins exhumation at former Catholic-run home after discovery of mass child grave
……………..

Irish authorities have begun exhuming a mass grave in the town of Tuam, western Ireland, believed to contain the remains of 796 children who died at a Catholic-run mother-and-baby home. The facility operated between 1925 and 1961, housing thousands of unmarried women and their children under a harsh regime that stigmatized births out of wedlock.

The case came to light in 2014 after years of research by historian Catherine Corless, who uncovered the absence of burial records and revealed that the children had been buried in unmarked graves. Despite early findings in 2016 and 2017, the government only passed legislation in 2022 to authorize excavation.

A specialized team is now working to recover the remains and identify them through DNA testing, with the aim of providing proper burials. Families of former residents continue to demand accountability and transparency, accusing the state and church of neglect and concealment.

The case has reignited national debate about institutional abuse and the legacy of religious control in Ireland’s social welfare system. While some families may find closure, many questions remain unanswered, as campaigners push for justice for the victims and survivors of these now-defunct institutions.