Exhumation of Tuam babies site begins as surviving mother prays to find missing son
The only surviving mother of the Tuam mother and bay home has said she "hopes my missing son is found" as the country's first ever mass grave exhumation begins.Specialist forensics are tasked with opening the 5,000sq m of ground in the centre of the Dublin Road housing estate in the Galway town.Experts from all over the world have been appointed by the Tuam intervention director Daniel MacSweeney, whose office is tasked with the recovery of 796 children who died in the former mother and baby home between 1925 and 1961.Chrissie Tully from Loughrea has tried to find the burial records for her son who died on December 13, 1949.She is the only mother alive who was in the Tuam mother and baby home, once in 1949 and again in 1955.“Both of my sons were taken from me,” she said. “Michael died, I was told, but I never saw him. Christopher was adopted without my knowledge, and he is now called Patrick, and we are very close. He found me years ago.
My son has to be somewhere. Please God, they find him and the other children.
There are no burial records for Chrissie's son Michael in Galway County council, nor are there records for him in the adjoining Bohermore cemetery. Chrissie Tully said she will join the Tuam Babies Family Group who will light a candle for the children in their homes as the exhumation begins. Picture: Hany MarzoukThe Irish Examiner has learned that Chrissie Tully's son Michael was one of 80 children admitted to the former Galway central hospital from the Tuam home.Those 80 children are not included in the list of 796 babies and infants who died in the Tuam home which was uncovered by local historian Catherine Corless during her research on the home.Records from the commission of inquiry also show a further eight children from the home died in other hospitals while 80 others died in Glenamaddy, a facility that predated the one in Tuam.There are also a further six children who died in Tuam that are not included in the 796-death list, bringing the total death lost at Tuam to 802.The investigation by the commission of inquiry estimated that a combined total of almost 1,000 deaths occurred in relation to the Tuam home.There is only one record from Galway hospital for Michael Tully which was secured by his mother under the Freedom of Information Act that states the child died following a "complex breech delivery" and the same record states "return to the Tuam home".Ms Tully said she will join the Tuam Babies Family Group who will light a candle for the children in their homes as the exhumation begins.
I pray for him every day and Ill have my candle lit.
Anna Corrigan, whose two brothers are in the grave, said she will be in Tuam for the breaking of the ground.“I wrote to (children's) minister Norma Foley, the Taoiseach, and the President to invite them to the site last week when family were there and none of them attended.“Then we learned that minister Foley went to the site last week herself, she could have at least taken the time to meet the families.” In a statement a department of children spokesperson said: “The minister visited the site this week and met with the director and the specialist team in advance of this key stage of work commencing. "The Minister wishes to thank the director and the team for their ongoing professionalism and expertise as they continue with this important work.”
