Uncovering a Mass Child Grave

Syllabus Areas:

Ethics: Ethical Dilemmas

A mass child grave has been uncovered at a site in Tuam, Ireland, formerly known as St. Mary’s Mother and Baby Home.

What is the Purpose of the Institution?

  • It was set up to house unmarried, pregnant women—who were often stigmatized and rejected by society..
  • After giving birth, these women were forced to give up their babies.
  • The institutions were meant to be places of care—but were often sites of neglect, malnutrition, forced labor, and emotional trauma.

This facility was run by the Bon Secours Sisters, a Catholic religious order, from 1925 to 1961.

What was discovered?

  • In 1975, two boys accidentally found human bones in a septic tank while playing.
  • The authorities ignored the discovery for decades.

Breakthrough in 2014:

  • Local historian Catherine Corless researched the home’s records and discovered:
    • 796 children had died there.
    • There were no burial records, death certificates were vague.
    • She concluded that the children were buried secretly, many likely in the septic tank.

Excavation and Scientific Inquiry:

  • In 2017, a government-backed excavation found human remains of infants and young children in underground chambers of a decommissioned sewage tank.
  • These remains are now being exhumed, identified, and reburied

Wider Crisis (Tip of the Iceberg):

  • Over 56,000 unmarried women and 57,000 children were admitted across 18 similar homes.
  • An estimated 9,000 children died in such facilities.
  • Reflects systemic abuse and lack of accountability in state- and church-run institutions.

This isn’t just about a grave; it's about how vulnerable groups—especially women and children—were abandoned by those who were supposed to protect them. It’s a case study in state failure, religious dominance over public institutions, and the long fight for truth and justice.

Ethical Dilemmas Involved:

  1. 1. Can historical abuse be corrected retroactively through redressal?
  2. 2. Should religious institutions be allowed to run welfare homes without public scrutiny?
  3. 3. How do we balance tradition with constitutional morality?