The remains of seven infants have been found at the site of a former Irish mother and baby institution.

Excavating teams made the discovery on the site of St Mary’s Home in Tuam, County Galway.

The bodies were found in an area adjacent to the ‘underground vaulted structures,’ the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention said.

Local history Catherine Corless who first discovered that hundreds of human remains were buried in a former sewage tank told Sky News: ‘I never, ever understand how they could do that to little babies, little toddlers. Beautiful little vulnerable children.’

A full analysis is to be carried out to estimate the infants’ age at death and is expected to take up to three months, the agency confirmed.

St Mary’s Home was run by the Bon Secour sisters from 1925

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