McAleese inquiry told of Tuam mother and baby home deaths in 2012

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”.