A group representing survivors and relatives of the Tuam Mother and Baby home has slammed the Children's Minister over her letter to the Pope.
In a statement, the Tuam Home Survivors Network (THSN) said the letter was "nothing more than a publicity stunt."
Yesterday, Minister Katherine Zappone revealed that she had handed a letter to the Pope, outlining the Tuam case, and demanding that the Church "contribute substantially" to reparations.
The remarks I made to @Pontifex and a letter I handed over for his attention on Saturday are now available online https://t.co/ZptbQxJNa7 @DCYAPress @merrionstreet
— Katherine Zappone (@KZapponeTD) August 27, 2018
However, in a statement this morning, the survivors group hit out at the failure of State authorities to convene an inquest and complete an exhumation of the remains.
It said the lack of action has "prolonged the agony of survivors and those whose relatives may be buried there, by standing in the way of an exhumation."
Jurisdiction
Spokesperson Kevin Higgins said a decision on whether to open an inquest lies with the local coroner - with the attorney general the only person with the power to step in should the coroner fail to do so.
"We don't really see any relevance in her speaking to the Pope about this because jurisdiction over the mass grave at Tuam belongs with the local coroner - who has yet to convene an inquest into the death of almost 800 children," he said.
"In fact it has nothing to do with Katherine Zappone - or Government - and yet they purport to be exercising control over site."
Inquest
The group said Minister Zappone's letter to the Pope "smacks of a stunt" and insisted that there is "no option, other than to convene an Inquest and complete an exhumation."
The State Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation originally confirmed the existence of human remains in a septic tank at the Tuam facility in 2017.
It uncovered the remains in 17 out of 20 chambers discovered in an elongated structure within the boundaries of the former site.
The report identified the number of deaths from the General Registers Office of 796 children during the years 1925-1961.
THSN said the demand for the church to contribute to reparations should have been directed at the Bon Secours Order which ran the Tuam site - rather than at the Vatican itself.
It called on the Minister to clarify whether she had written to the Bon Secours Order about the scandal since she came into office.
