The Department of Justice is currently working on a project to remove the remains of executed prisoners from the grounds of Dublin’s Mountjoy Prison for re-interment at “a suitable location”.
The department says that the area where it plans to carry out excavations is thought to contain the remains of 29 prisoners executed between 1923 and 1954.
It may also contain the remains of a small number of prisoners executed prior to the foundation of the State.
“Any remains discovered during the excavations, regardless of the date of the individual’s death, will be re-interred at a suitable location,” the department states.
It has invited anyone related to any of the individuals involved, who would like to have some involvement in the project, to contact it at mountjoyexhumations@justice.ie. It adds that all communications received will be treated as confidential.
This process is due to start this month, and is expected to take six to seven months.