'We want no stone left unturned', say group campaigning for Sean Ross Abbey dig 

Sean Ross Abbey in Roscrea, Co Tipperary: Just 44 babies’ graves were found at the abbey, despite the large number of deaths known to have taken place there.

A group which fought for a ground-penetrating scan of the grounds of the former Sean Ross Abbey mother and baby home say they will leave no stone unturned after an excavation at the site was ruled out.

A report on the scan at the Roscrea property was forwarded a year ago to the Department of Children, and subsequently was sent to the office of the State’s chief archaeologist for review.

While the We Are Still Here group was satisfied the report showed four anomalies on the grounds of the former mother and baby home, the chief archaeologist’s review concluded the survey report was inconclusive, with no clear evidence of burials.

In a recent reply to Sinn Féin TD Sorca Clarke, then minister for children Roderic O’Gorman said given the designated burial ground at Sean Ross had been forensically investigated without evidence of “manifestly inappropriate burials and there is also no evidence of manifestly inappropriate burials in the area outside the designated burial ground, it is not possible to bring forward a proposal to establish an office of director of authorised intervention to excavate the site at Sean Ross Abbey.” 

It comes as the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention at Tuam has gone out to tender for qualified experts to assist with the recovery of the remains of almost 800 children believed to be buried at the Co Galway former mother and baby home.

Teresa Collins of the We Are Still Here group said Mr O’Gorman had notified the group of the latest development regarding the Roscrea site.

But she said the group were particularly interested in two of the four anomalies identified in the scans and would like to see an archaeological dig on that area.

“That would bring closure. We want to leave no stone unturned.” She said the group would be in contact with Children's Minister Norma Foley, who has succeeded Mr O’Gorman, in the coming weeks.

A total of 1,090 children died across almost four decades at Sean Ross Abbey. However, Ms Collins said there were only 269 death records relating to the home. Just 44 babies’ graves were found at the abbey, despite the large number of deaths known to have taken place there.

The Co Tipperary home was thrust into the spotlight by the story of Philomena Lee, who was sent to the home when she became pregnant at the age of 18. Her son was adopted by a US couple when he was aged three. The story was the subject of a book by journalist Martin Sixsmith, which led to the film Philomena, which starred Judi Dench in the title role.