Nuns ordered to hand over files on 800 Tuam babies

By Caroline Crawford
Irish Independent
November 16, 2014

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/nuns-ordered-to-hand-over-files-on-800-tuam-babies-30747969.html

A plaque at the Baby gravesite at Tuam Mother and Baby home

Catherine Corless

THE BON Secour Order of nuns who ran the mother and baby home in Tuam in which almost 800 children died, will be compelled to attend a Commission of Inquiry set up to investigate the matter.

In the event that the Order or any other witnesses who are called, do not assist the inquiry, they will be ordered to do so.

The Order will also be compelled to hand over records it might hold on the home to the Inquiry, which will be chaired by Judge Yvonne Murphy.

Historian Catherine Corless, who highlighted the deaths of almost 800 children in the Tuam mother and baby home, received the assurance from Minister for Children Dr James Reilly.

Ms Corless met with the minister in recent weeks to discuss her research into the Tuam home. She raised concerns about the inquiry's ability to access records currently held by the Sisters of Bon Secours nuns who ran the home.

However, the minister told the historian that all bodies with relevant information could be compelled to attend the Inquiry and had over records or documentation.

"During our meeting I did make the point that the Bon Secours Order must have records but there was nothing coming forward from them. He did say people will be compelled to come forward and will be compelled to hand over records," she told the Sunday Independent.

"I felt positive following the meeting. The minister took a copy of all the documents and maps but there was no commitment as such about what he was going to do now," she added.

A spokesperson for Minister Reilly confirmed that witnesses would be compelled to attend the Inquiry if required.

"The Commission of Inquiry to be set up into the mother and baby homes issue is being set up under the Commission of Inquiry legislation. That legislation will provide to Judge Yvonne Murphy and the Commission the power to compel witnesses should it be required," the spokesman added.

Ms Corless addressed a meeting in regards to the mother and baby home at NUI Galway last week, where she confirmed she had found maps showing a much more extensive burial site than previously recorded.

The Galway historian believes that this larger plot, which is marked on maps and referenced in a council meeting in 1979, tallies with the death toll at the Tuam home.

"This is a much larger area which is attached to the smaller plot. I believe this is where the remains of the children could be buried. It is a very large green area and it needs to be investigated," she said.

A total of 796 children died at the home which operated between 1925 and 1961. They died from a range of ailments from measles, malnutrition, gastroenteritis and even laryngitis.

The meeting also heard from Prof Michael O'Flaherty who said the Inquiry must allow for redress or compensation if human rights abuses are discovered.

He said the Inquiry must also be capable of leading to the punishment of those identified as responsible in the event that human rights abuses are uncovered.

A fund set up in order to build a memorial garden for the dead children has now raised over €35,000. It will be used to build a garden memorial and erect plaques with the names of all 796 children inscribed on them.

"The response was incredible from around the world. The plaques are paid for and ready to go but we are awaiting the terms of reference from the commission in case they want to excavate the area. We don't want to do anything until we know if the area is to be excavated. Once we know about that we will move ahead," added Ms Corless.