Justice Minister Requests Garda Report on Tuam Babies Case

Newstalk
June 9, 2014

http://www.newstalk.ie/Legal-expert-calls-for-Commission-of-Inquiry-into-Childrens-homes

A small plaque marks the spot where some 800 children are buried

The Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has requested a report from An Garda Siochana on information relating to the Tuam babies case.

In a statement, the Department of Justice said "It is very important that we address these disturbing issues as sensitively as possible. There is no doubt that coverage over the last few days will have inevitably evoked very painful memories for people, many of whom are now quite elderly".

"There is now an interdepartmental process under way to examine how this complex, disturbing and tragic situation can be best addressed".

The Department says it has also been liaising with the gardai "so that the information available to them can feed into the interdepartmental process".

It adds that any decisions about criminal investigations will be made by An Garda Siochana.

Meanwhile there has been a call for the State to reach out to former residents of mother and baby homes around Ireland.

Dr. Sarah Anne Buckley from NUIG is also calling for an oral history to be compiled as part of the investigations that have been sparked by the discovery of a mass babies' grave in Galway.

She told Newstalk Breakfast earlier some of the women from these homes are still living in Ireland and we need to listen to them.