Forensic dig in Tuam uncovers 99 infant remains at former mother-baby home

In Tuam, County Galway, a year-long forensic excavation of the former St. Mary’s Mother and Baby Home has yielded the remains of 99 infants, recovered from two distinct locations beneath a former playground and parking area. The site, which functioned from 1925 until 1961 under the Sisters of Bon Secours, is believed to have seen hundreds of infant deaths, likely due to neglect and malnutrition. A newly established forensic facility is processing the skeletons, conducting DNA testing to connect them with surviving family members, and working to determine ages and possible causes of death.

The Irish Parliament authorized the dig without a set deadline, estimating a two-year timeline, while criminal prosecution is considered unlikely because most responsible individuals are deceased. The investigation follows a 2014 revelation by local historian Catherine Corless, whose research uncovered the names of 796 unrecorded infant deaths and spurred a judicial inquiry. A feature film about the case, produced by Liam Neeson and directed by Frank Berry, is slated for release.