THE INTER-DEPARTMENTAL report on mother-and-baby homes has gathered information about the home in Tuam, Co Galway.
Almost 800 children died at the home run by the Bon Secours Sisters from 1925-1961.
It averaged 22.2 deaths per year – ranging from one death in 1958 to 53 in 1947.
The General Register’s Office (GRO) identified that 1,101 births were recorded during the 36 years that the Tuam home operated.
Reported causes of deaths
‘Debility from birth’ was recorded as the biggest cause of death, killing 24% of the 796 children.
‘Respiratory diseases’ was recorded as the second biggest killer with 15%.
Here’s the full list of the causes of deaths:
The report stated that an “assessment of mortality rates will need public health specialist/historical analysis of statistics on children born and resident at the home in Tuam”.
Skeletal Remains
In relation to lawful burials, the report states, “There were no conditions applying to burial sites attaching to religious homes and no onus to report or give notification of burials therein to any authority.”
It also reveals that Garda enquiries confirm reports that skeletal remains were discovered in an underground structure near the site in mid-1970s with no record of Garda/coroner involvement at that time.
The Gardaí are now continuing to make enquiries locally at the request of the Minister for Justice and Equality.
The question of a suitable memorial at Tuam is now being looked at by the Tuam Home Graveyard Committee.
The Inter Departmental Group has been advised that Land Registry records indicate that the site is in the ownership of the the Local Authority, having been transferred to them by the Health Board in 1978.
You can read the report in full here.
Originally posted 3:30pm.
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