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According to emerging reports, a second site in Galway, which was run by the Bon Secours nuns, is to be scanned for infant remains.

Building which is due to take place on the grounds of Grove Hospital will be postponed in order to facilitate an excavation.

The scan has been ordered following concerns that the site may hide the remains of babies who died at birth.

The excavation will be conducted in a similar way to the one which was carried out at the Tuam Mother and Baby Home earlier this year.

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There has been plenty of news surrounding the recent protests in Charlottesville, as white nationalist groups protested the potential removal of monuments honouring Confederate generals. 

Now, Tuam could be the next site at which a confederate statue could be removed. 

A plaque honouring the life of Confederate General Richard Dowling, a Tuam native who fought in the Civil War on the side of the Confederates. 

The plaque stands under an engraving of the General's face, and honours his life and death. 

Tuam locals have called on the County Council to remove the plaque.

'It was put up in 1998,' local Independent Councillor Shaun Cunniffe told Breaking News.

'The focus at the time from the Tuam Town Council was really on the enormous effect that this guy had, Dick Dowling, in Houston – there was streets named after him, parks named after him.'

'Unfortunately, I think they overlooked the fact that he was on the side of the American Civil War that wanted to uphold slavery.'

This news comes after a man was reportedly arrested in Houston after attempting to blow up a statue of Richard Dowling in Hermann Park, Houston, according to the Houston Chronicle. 

Feature image: John Jeremiah Cronin / Twitter

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The Department of Children and Youth Affairs have released their first report regarding the Tuam Mother and Baby home. 

Four months ago, the remains of numerous infants were found at the site. 

In the report, Minister Katherine Zappone invited former residents and their friends and families to engage in the consultation process regarding the home. 

The report showed that the number of consulting participants showed a 'high level of interest in engaging with this process.'

Arrangements for further events are being considered so that others will also have an opportunity to have their say, and may be held countrywide.

The report also noted that the examination of the remains is ongoing, and that there are difficulties identifying the exact number of remains found. 

It found that the remains were 'intermingled,' making individual identification tricky. 

Examination will continue from July 17.

'These non-invasive surveys, which do not involve any excavations or disturbance of the ground, may assist to identify any further burials or anomalies on the areas in the ownership of Galway County Council,' reads the report. 

Feature image: Niall Carson.

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Children's Minister, Katherine Zappone, has said she would be in favour of examinations at the sites of other mother and baby homes.

Speaking in the Dáil today, she announced the appointment of a forensic archaeologist who will lead a team of experts which will assess the future of the former mother and baby home in Tuam, Co. Galway.

She also told her colleagues that the dignity and memory of those children who died at the home needed to be respected and that she hopes to build consensus among survivors about what should happen next.

As well as that, the Minister assured the Dáil that the process of examination would be transparent and open.

“We have made too many decisions in this country in the dark,” she said.

“We are not going to do that again in relation to Tuam.”

Speaking to reporters this evening, Ms Zappone said:

"If there is the possibility for remains of children that are unidentified in other homes, in terms of what I've heard and what I feel, yes I would like to see the possibility of work done in that regard," she said.

"That's why what we're trying to do in Tuam is so significant and frankly it's unparalleled throughout the world."

This comes after the remains of over 800 babies were found at the Tuam site during a test excavation in October 2016.

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Human remains have been found at the site of a former Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, Co Galway.

“These remains involved a number of individuals with age-at-death ranges from approximately 35 foetal weeks to 2-3 years,” said The Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation.

“Radiocarbon dating of the samples recovered suggest that the remains date from the timeframe relevant to the operation of the Mother and Baby Home. The homes ran from 1925 to 1961."

The site has been undergoing excavations to investigate sub surface anomalies that were considered worthy of investigation.

The commission have now confirmed that “significant quantities of human remains have been discovered” in a structure which appears to have once been some kind of sewage container or septic tank. 

Children's Minister Katherine Zappone said it was "very sad and disturbing news" in a statement. 

Pic: Niall Carson

 "It was not unexpected as there were claims about human remains on the site over the last number of years."

 "Up to now we had rumours. Now we have confirmation that the remains are there, and that they date back to the time of the Mother and Baby Home, which operated in Tuam from 1925 to 1961," she said.

Feature image: Niall Carson.

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