Tuam babies: Excavation of site 'not imminent but we are on the right track'

Annette McKay's sister Mary Margaret O’Connor died in 1942 from whooping cough when she was six months old. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

The sister of a baby who is believed to be buried in a mass grave in Tuam has said the excavation of the site is “not imminent but we are on the right track”.

Annette McKay was speaking following the first meeting of the advisory board to the director of the exhumation of the Tuam babies.

In 2014, it emerged that 796 children died in appalling circumstances at the former mother and baby home in Galway during its operation.

However, the children who died there between 1925 and 1961 were buried in a disused cesspit where they still remain today.

Annette McKay’s sister Mary Margaret O’Connor died in 1942 from whooping cough when she was six months old.

Ms McKay was appointed to the committee last year.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner after Tuesday's meeting in Dublin, she said: “We have a mountain to climb, but it was clear that the families of the children will be listened to”.

She continued: “We met this morning and I felt that everybody was on board. I also gave my DNA sample.

“We have a mountain to climb, the exhumation of the babies is not imminent, but there is a clear plan and the director is moving towards removing the children from there.

“Everybody is very keen and I suppose for me, since my sister died in 1942, I can honestly say this is something solid.

“There are a number of phases to be completed before the actual excavation of the site starts but I feel confident”.

Peter Mulryan and Annette McKay. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Ms McKay will be working alongside the director, Daniel MacSweeney, who will oversee the project.

Archaeologist Niamh McCullough, who carried out the test excavations of the site in October 2016 and January 2017, is also involved in the project.

Ms McCullough and her teams’ work led to the discovery of a “significant quantity of human remains” found in 18 of the 20 chambers of the cesspit.

She was previously critical of the temporary hoarding that was put up around the site and recommended an excavation take place sooner.

The other members of the advisory board include:

• Chairperson: Dr Brian Farrell, Dublin District Coroner emeritus and past president of the Coroner’s Society of Ireland;
• Scientific expert: Dr Barra O’Donnabhain, Department of Archaeology, University College Cork;
• Scientific expert: Dr Denise Keating, freelance consultant osteoarchaeologist;
• County Council representative: Alan Farrell, director of services (corporate services);
• Family member: Annette McKay, whose sister is believed to be buried in Tuam;
• Family member Peter Mulryan, who is a survivor of the Tuam home and is searching for his two siblings, one of whom is believed to be buried there.

Mr Mulryan told the Irish Examiner that there is a lot of work to do before any excavation but we have agreed to meet at least once a month.

“There’s a budget of €7m for the project but it’s on track I am happy enough.

“We just want to find the children and my sister and get the babies out of there, that’s what we want, I feel everyone agreed to that on the committee.” 

The Institutional Burials Act 2022 allows for a director of authorised intervention, including the excavating of land associated with an institution owned, operated, controlled, or funded by a public body.