Excavation uncovers remains of seven infants on grounds of former mother and baby home at Tuam

Excavation works underway at the site of the former Tuam Mother and Baby Institution. Also, seven sets of human remains that relate to the workhouse that predated the mother and baby home have been found. File picture: Chani Anderson

Seven sets of human remains have been recovered from an under-vault area at the grounds of the former mother and baby home at Tuam, which according to a new report, appear to be that of infants.

The Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam (ODAIT), which is carrying out the first ever mass exhumation at the 5,000sq metre site of the former mother and baby home, said that the "initial assessment indicates that these skeletal remains belong to infants". It said a full analysis will be carried out to "estimate age at death".