Fact Check: "Infant remains at Tuam site co-mingled with victims of the Great Famine"
What We Know
The claim that infant remains at the Tuam site are co-mingled with victims of the Great Famine lacks substantial evidence. The Tuam site, formerly a mother and baby home run by the Bon Secours Sisters from 1925 to 1961, was the subject of a significant investigation that revealed the presence of human remains belonging to infants and children aged up to three years old. In 2016, investigators found "significant quantities of human remains" in underground chambers, specifically in a structure identified as a disused sewage tank (BBC, Wikipedia).
The Irish government's Commission of Investigation into the mother-and-baby institutions confirmed that the remains were primarily those of children, with no evidence suggesting that they were mixed with remains from the Great Famine, which occurred from 1845 to 1852. The remains found at Tuam were dated to the time the home was operational, and the excavation work is aimed at recovering and analyzing these specific remains (New York Times, RTÉ).
Analysis
The assertion that remains from the Great Famine are co-mingled with those of infants at the Tuam site appears to stem from a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of the findings. The excavation and analysis conducted by the Commission of Investigation focused solely on the remains of infants and young children, confirming their age and origin (Guardian, Sky News).
While it is true that the Tuam site was previously part of a workhouse and may have historical connections to the Famine, the evidence does not support the claim of co-mingling. The Expert Technical Group's report concluded that the remains found were exclusively those of infants, and the unique nature of this burial site—being a sewage tank—further complicates any potential for mixing with Famine victims (Wikipedia, Mathrubhumi).
Furthermore, the sources discussing the excavation work and findings are credible, including government reports and reputable news outlets. They provide a clear narrative that focuses on the tragic history of the mother and baby home without conflating it with the Famine (BBC, Guardian).
Conclusion
Verdict: False
The claim that infant remains at the Tuam site are co-mingled with victims of the Great Famine is not supported by evidence. Investigations have consistently shown that the remains found at the site belong exclusively to infants and young children who died while at the mother and baby home. There is no credible evidence to suggest that these remains are mixed with those from the Famine, which occurred decades earlier.
Sources
- Tuam: Works to enable excavation of mass burial site starts
- Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home
- For the Lost Children of Tuam, a Proper Burial at Last
- Pre-excavation work due at former mother-and-baby home - RTÉ
- 796 babies buried in a septic tank: Inside the darkest secrets of ...
- Preparatory work to identify remains of 800 infants at Irish ...
- Dig for remains of 800 infants at former 'mother and baby home' in ...
- Ireland: 796 babies buried in shelter home of Catholic institution
