By Anthony Sheridan
This short letter in the Irish Times, signed by 97 writers and artists, is the most powerful comment I have so far witnessed in response to the horror of Tuam.
Minister Katherine Zappone, the woman who will make the final decision on what is to be done, should have this letter enlarged, framed and placed on her desk to remind her that there is just one decision that leads to justice.
Any other decision will lead to cover-up and more suffering for those involved.
Tuam – time to uncover the truth
Sir,
We the undersigned writers and artists appeal to the Government to use the full force of its purse and power to undertake a complete excavation, identification where possible, and dignified reburial of the victims of Tuam. We further appeal for the Government to undertake an active and authentic attempt to identify the many missing individuals who will have been illegally adopted at home and abroad.
In light of significant, possibly criminal, failings at Tuam – of which the lack of burial records for 796 infants and children, the missing bodies of women, the verified existence of “significant quantities” of human remains, and the ongoing testimony of survivors are ample evidence – mere memorialisation is inadequate. Systematic exhumation is necessary to uncover the truth. The Government must use any and all resources (including, as necessary, resources of the Bon Secours Order) to complete a full excavation and identification of all remains on the site as has been consistently requested by Catherine Corless, survivors, and family members of those who lived in the Home. – Yours, etc,
MARY O’DONNELL,
DR AILBHE DARCY,
KIMBERLY
CAMPANELLO,
AIDEEN BARRY,
CARMEL BENSON,
MELONY BETHALA,
DR DYLAN BRENNAN,
MAIRÉAD BYRNE,
FIÓNA BOLGER,
JUNE CALDWELL,
MARY ROSE
CALLAGHAN,
ANNA CAREY,
EILEEN CASEY,
PAUL CASEY,
SARAH CLANCY,
JANE CLARKE,
PATRICK CHAPMAN,
BRÍD CONNOLLY,
SUSAN CONNOLLY,
JUNE CONSIDINE,
BRIGID CORCORAN,
MARION COX,
ENDA COYLE-GREENE,
CATHERINE
ANN CULLEN,
MADELEINE D’ARCY,
MARTINA DEVLIN,
MOYRA DONALDSON,
THEO DORGAN,
CATHERINE DUNNE,
ANNE ENRIGHT,
ATTRACTA FAHY,
TANYA FARRELLY,
ELAINE FEENEY,
KIT FRYATT,
MIA GALLAGHER,
ANTHONY GLAVIN,
SINÉAD GLEESON,
SHAUNA GILLIGAN,
JACKIE GORMAN,
DYLAN COBURN GRAY,
SARAH MARIA GRIFFIN,
VONA GROARKE,
MARY GUCKIAN,
MAURICE HARMON,
JACK HARTE,
JOANNE HAYDEN,
CLAIRE HENNESSY,
RITA ANN HIGGINS,
ELEANOR HOOKER,
VICTORIA KENNEFICK,
ANATOLY
KUDRYAVITSKY,
DAVE LORDAN,
AIFRIC MAC AODHA,
CATHERINE PHIL
MacCARTHY,
JOHN MacKENNA,
NUALA MACKLIN,
ALICE MAHER,
CHRISTODOULOS
MAKRIS,
OANA SANZIANA
MARIAN,
EMER MARTIN,
JOHN McAULIFFE,
FELICITY McCARTAN,
FLISH McCARTHY,
MOLLY McCLOSKEY,
MARIA McMANUS,
DECLAN MEADE,
PAULA MEEHAN,
LIA MILLS,
SINÉAD MORRISSEY,
PAUL MULDOON,
HELENA MULKERNS,
ANNE MULHALL,
SONYA MULLIGAN,
CHRISTINE MURRAY,
UNA NI CHEALLAIGH,
ANNEMARIE
NÍ CHURREÁIN,
NUALA NI CHONCHUIR,
DOIREANN NÍ GHRÍOFA,
EILEEN
NÍ SHUILLEABHÁIN,
LIZ NUGENT,
JEAN O’BRIEN,
MARGARET O’DONNELL,
JOHN O’DONOVAN,
NESSA O’MAHONY,
GERALDINE O’REILLY,
Dr ROBYN ROWLAND AO,
KARL PARKINSON,
JUSTIN QUINN,
CONNIE ROBERTS,
ANNETTE SKADE,
KELLY E. SULLIVAN,
ANNE TANNAM,
SUSAN TOMASELLI,
JESSICA TRAYNOR,
SAMANTHA WALTON,
DAVID WHEATLEY,
ADAM WYETH.