Philomena Lee Weeps for Tuam Babies Saying: "I Feel Sick to the Stomach That Any Child Bore This Indignity and Cruelty.”

By Jilly Beattie
Irish Mirror
June 7, 2014

http://www.irishmirror.ie/female/philomena-lee-weeps-tuam-babies-3651758#.U5JB2_pMimo.facebook

Philomena Lee at the Oscar Wilde party in LA

Movie inspiration Philomena Lee spoke yesterday of her horror over the mass baby grave.

The 81-year-old’s struggle to find her son Anthony who was taken from her in an unmarried mother and baby home touched millions when it hit the big screen as an acclaimed film starring Dame Judi Dench.

And yesterday, Philomena said: “Now I know we were the lucky ones.

“For 50 years I kept my sweet boy a secret until I could hold it in no longer.

“My dream was to be reunited with him but sadly it was not to be and the grief I have suffered has broken me many times.

“But I temper all my upset with the certain knowledge Anthony had a good life and a fulfilled life and he was happy and loved by all who knew him.

“Today I could weep for the babies and the mothers of those little children who were disposed of, killed or left to die.

“I just don’t have the words to describe my horror and heartache over hearing about this mass grave in Tuam.”

The determined mother asked: “How could they do it? How could women who professed to love God, be Christians, think this was the proper course of action?

“Those little babies, those poor little souls thrown into a tank of human waste.

“It’s unthinkably cruel. I’m heart sore for them and their poor mothers. I could weep today. They were fed water and sugar and I suppose they were so malnourished they died and were thrown away.

“I want to send my love and condolences today to their families, relatives who may never know they lost a little person in their past in this way.

“I feel there is more to come, more for us to bear about the cruelty dealt to women and children who should have been in the safest hands.

“My heart is broken today and I feel sick to the stomach that any child bore this indignity and cruelty.”

Philomena said she was grateful her boy escaped such an horrific fate.

She added: “It’s a cruel twist that makes a mother like me thankful for her pain, for it’s not as bad as it could be – my boy lived, he loved and was loved for many years.

“This week’s revelations change my story, change my life and how I look forward.

“But I would urge the people in authority to keep working to unveil the truth so we can all deal with it and make amends where we can.”