A historian has told TDs and Senators that rodents have gnawed on the remains of children buried at the Tuam Mother and Baby Home.
Catherine Corless is speaking at the Oireachtas Children's Committee, which is examining a bill which could allow for the remains of mass graves at the institutions to be exhumed.
It's estimated the remains of up to 800 children could be buried at the home in county Galway. Ms Corless says the remains of the Tuam babies are being damaged.
She told the Dail that "heavy rain has flooded the area and the seeping water has caused some mingling of the little remains. This is evident by watermarks in the chambers and you will note in one photo of the 2019 interim report, a little finger is attached to the chamber wall because of the water lashing against it. Many of the little remains also have evidence of rodent gnawing."
