Forensics excavating the former grounds of the Tuam mother and baby home have recovered four more sets of human remains of infants at the site in Galway, “from the time of the operation of the Mother and Baby Institution”.
The team has now recovered 11 infants who were coffined since the works began in July. The children’s remains have been sent for forensic analysis.
In this month’s update from the Office of the Director of the Intervention Team (ODAIT), the report states that “an additional four sets of human remains have been recovered in the area of the pink outline (white tent).
“The manner of burial of these four sets of human remains was consistent with that of the seven sets of human remains reported in Technical Update 3, published on 7 November 2025”.
The statement said the “initial assessments indicate that remains of all 11 individuals recovered to date belong to infants and were coffined. Forensic analysis is underway.”
The exhumation is expected to take at least 24 months. However, the Director of the Intervention, Daniel MacSweeney, has previously said it may take longer depending on what is uncovered.
The specialist team has also found additional potential child- or infant-sized graves in an area marked in pink on the maps provided, and forensics have confirmed the presence of a “burial ground”.
Technical Update from the forensic excavation at the site of the former Mother and Baby Institution in Tuam, Co. Galway Pictured: Tuam site, photo taken on 28th November 2025. (Red arrow shows North.)
The statement continued: “This area corresponds to part of the area labelled as ‘burial ground’ in historical documents referenced by the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation.
“Despite these historical references, there were no surface or ground level indications of the possibility of a burial ground at this location prior to excavation.
“The presence of burials at this location has now been confirmed. The layout and size of the graves is consistent evidence that, at this part of the site, there is a burial ground from the time of the operation of the Mother and Baby Institution.”
In addition to the remains of infants found in the excavation, forensics have also recovered numerous materials and objects from the four phases of the site’s history.
These include “fragments of the institution building’s roof capping and an Oxo bottle as well as animal bone”.
The statement said: “We continue to retrieve large amounts of animal bone, consistent with the domestic functions of the site during the workhouse, military and institution phases.
“All evidence recovered is being photographed, catalogued and retained by ODAIT in a dignified and respectful manner consistent with international standards and best practice. The excavation continues.”
