IRELAND
Irish Examiner
Monday, May 22, 2017
By Conall Ó Fátharta
Irish Examiner Reporter
The McAleese inquiry into Magdalene laundries was informed in 2012 about “disturbing” infant death rates in excess of 50% at the Tuam Mother and Baby Home.
The information was sent by Prof Jim Smith of Boston College and the Justice for Magdalenes Research group to the chairperson of the inquiry, then Senator Martin McAleese on 21 February 2012 — more than two years before the Tuam babies story made global headlines.
Prof Smith was submitting archival evidence demonstrating that the Department of Health always knew that mothers of children in the Tuam Home were recorded as “In the Magdalen”.
In the letter, Prof Smith informed Senator McAleese of a circular he had discovered relating to a 1948 Government survey which recorded the number of ‘illegitimate’ children who were born and died in Mother and Baby Homes and County Homes for the year ending March 31, 1947. All Public Assistance Authorities were asked to respond to the circular.
“According to the returns submitted to the government, 12 of the 22 ‘illegitimate’ children from Co Mayo born at the Baby Home, Tuam, died within the year. Likewise, 25 of the 49 ‘illegitimate’ children from Co Galway born at the Baby Home, Tuam, for the same period also died.
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