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Tuam babies: Amnesty International calls for investigation into deaths Tuam babies: Amnesty International calls for investigation into deaths
(34 minutes later)
Amnesty International has joined calls for an investigation into the burial of nearly 800 children at a mother and baby home in the Republic of Ireland.Amnesty International has joined calls for an investigation into the burial of nearly 800 children at a mother and baby home in the Republic of Ireland.
The remains of children, aged between two days and nine years, were found in a disused septic tank in County Galway. They died between 1925 and 1961.The remains of children, aged between two days and nine years, were found in a disused septic tank in County Galway. They died between 1925 and 1961.
The grave in Tuam was found 40 years ago, but was thought to be from the 1850s famine years.The grave in Tuam was found 40 years ago, but was thought to be from the 1850s famine years.
The Irish government has an inter-departmental group looking at the case.The Irish government has an inter-departmental group looking at the case.
Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Enda Kenny said he wants to know exactly what is the scale of the situation in Tuam and whether there are similar mass graves at other sites around the country.Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Enda Kenny said he wants to know exactly what is the scale of the situation in Tuam and whether there are similar mass graves at other sites around the country.
Mr Kenny said he asked Minister for Children Charlie Flanagan to draw together a number of officials to see what was involved and whether it was an isolated incident.Mr Kenny said he asked Minister for Children Charlie Flanagan to draw together a number of officials to see what was involved and whether it was an isolated incident.
He said a decision would then be taken in terms of what was the best thing to do to deal with "yet another element of our country's past".He said a decision would then be taken in terms of what was the best thing to do to deal with "yet another element of our country's past".
He said he understood the situation had been known about since 1972 and there were Dáil records relating to inspections dating back to the 1930s.He said he understood the situation had been known about since 1972 and there were Dáil records relating to inspections dating back to the 1930s.
The human rights organisation, Amnesty International, said any investigation must consider whether ill-treatment, neglect or other abuses were factors in the children's deaths.The human rights organisation, Amnesty International, said any investigation must consider whether ill-treatment, neglect or other abuses were factors in the children's deaths.
"A thorough investigation must be carried out into how these children died and if ill-treatment, neglect or other human rights abuses factored into their deaths," said John Dalhuisen of Amnesty."A thorough investigation must be carried out into how these children died and if ill-treatment, neglect or other human rights abuses factored into their deaths," said John Dalhuisen of Amnesty.
'Shocked''Shocked'
"We also need to know why these children were not afforded the respect of a proper and dignified burial."We also need to know why these children were not afforded the respect of a proper and dignified burial.
"The Irish government must not view this and other cases as merely historic and beyond its human rights obligations.""The Irish government must not view this and other cases as merely historic and beyond its human rights obligations."
The organisation added that the Tuam case should not be viewed in isolation, and called on the government to investigate allegations of ill-treatment of women and children in other homes.The organisation added that the Tuam case should not be viewed in isolation, and called on the government to investigate allegations of ill-treatment of women and children in other homes.
On Thursday, Catholic Archbishop of Tuam Michael Neary said he was "greatly shocked" by the news, adding that the church had no records about the burial.On Thursday, Catholic Archbishop of Tuam Michael Neary said he was "greatly shocked" by the news, adding that the church had no records about the burial.
The home was run by nuns of the Bon Secours Sisters for 36 years.The home was run by nuns of the Bon Secours Sisters for 36 years.
In a statement, Bons Secours said it handed its records to the state after it closed its doors.In a statement, Bons Secours said it handed its records to the state after it closed its doors.
"In 1961 the home was closed. All records were returned to the local authority, and would now be within the Health Service Executive, County Galway," the Order said."In 1961 the home was closed. All records were returned to the local authority, and would now be within the Health Service Executive, County Galway," the Order said.
The nuns said they were committed to engaging with Catherine Corless, the historian who identified the extent of the burials, and the Tuam graveyard committee, which is seeking a permanent memorial at the site.The nuns said they were committed to engaging with Catherine Corless, the historian who identified the extent of the burials, and the Tuam graveyard committee, which is seeking a permanent memorial at the site.
They have welcomed the government's announcement of an investigation into what happened.They have welcomed the government's announcement of an investigation into what happened.
RTE journalist Philip Boucher-Hayes said some people in Tuam, who have been trying to raise money to erect a plaque in memory of the children, were relieved that the story is now getting media attention.
However, he said others in the town were embarassed.
'Communal graves'
He said: "Talk to anybody else and there's a bit of hand wringing, there's a bit of chest beating and a lot of 'ah sure, those were the times, weren't they, what's the point in going and unearthing it now'.
"And I think that that is an embarrassment about our past that is probably replicated in so many places where there were industrial schools, where there where mother and baby homes and where there is now the suspicion in Cork, in west Meath, in Tipperary that there are very, very large communal graves of unmarked bodies, unknown about, un-commemorated, discarded bodies."
He said maps showed that the area where the Tuam remains were found had been sewage tank that became disused in the 1930s after it began to leak.
He said he had spoken to people who remembered seeing nuns "in the failing light of summer evenings, quite late in the evening, burying remains with workmen into this septic tank site".
"There is a wealth of evidence there which points towards the nuns knowingly burying hundreds of bodies in a disused septic tank," he said.
The Tuam home was one of 10 institutions in which about 35,000 unmarried pregnant women - so-called fallen women - are thought to have been sent.The Tuam home was one of 10 institutions in which about 35,000 unmarried pregnant women - so-called fallen women - are thought to have been sent.
The children of these women were denied baptism and segregated from others at school. If they died at such facilities, they were also denied a Christian burial.The children of these women were denied baptism and segregated from others at school. If they died at such facilities, they were also denied a Christian burial.
County Galway death records showed that most of the children buried in the unmarked grave had died of sickness or malnutrition.County Galway death records showed that most of the children buried in the unmarked grave had died of sickness or malnutrition.
Two years ago, Irish justice minister Alan Shatter said he was considering calls for an investigation of a former Protestant-run Bethany Home in Dublin.Two years ago, Irish justice minister Alan Shatter said he was considering calls for an investigation of a former Protestant-run Bethany Home in Dublin.
Up to 219 children born at the mother and baby home between 1922 and 1949 died.Up to 219 children born at the mother and baby home between 1922 and 1949 died.
In 2010, 40 infants from the home were discovered in unmarked graves in the nearby Mount Jerome cemetery.In 2010, 40 infants from the home were discovered in unmarked graves in the nearby Mount Jerome cemetery.