Proposals for a State Response to Illegal Birth Registrations in Ireland: report now available to download at https://t.co/ZVF8SojZAe. Executive summary and list of recommendations below. 1/4 pic.twitter.com/I4vchayBP2
— Conor O’Mahony (@ConorUCCLaw) March 14, 2022
This afternoon.
The report into the state’s role in illegal adoptions by Prof Conor O’Mahony. the Government’s Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, has been published.
Via Belfast Telegraph:
The report concludes that the state was aware of the practice of illegal birth registration for decades before any serious action was taken to investigate the practice and mitigate its effects.
It also found that the action taken to date falls short of remedying the violation of the right to identity for many of those affected.
“The ad hoc, piecemeal and delayed reaction of the various state bodies to illegal birth registrations failed to discharge the state’s obligation to ensure accurate registration of births and to correct inaccurate registrations, and exacerbated the impact of the practice on affected individuals,” the report adds.
The report also states that the state should consider an apology to those who are affected by the practice of illegal birth registrations if it is requested.
“However, apologies carry little weight unless backed by practical measures to remedy the rights violation in question,” the report continues.
“As such, the state should implement measures aimed at the identification, so far as possible, of cases of illegal birth registration, informing individuals affected and correcting the register of births.”
State aware of illegal birth registration for decades, report finds (Belfast Telegraph)
Meanwhile…
…Holly Cairns TD, Social Democrats, Social Democrats Social Justice Spokesperson, said:
“The government will no doubt claim that the Birth Information and Tracing Bill, which is currently making its way through the Oireachtas, will address many of this report’s recommendations. This is simply untrue. Over the past two weeks, I have tabled and argued for over 300 amendments, based on engagements with human rights experts and survivors. Not a single amendment has been accepted by the Minister for Children.
“Adopted people have been denied access to their personal data for decades. They are therefore highly sceptical of the government’s assurance it is acting in their best interests. Dr. O’Mahony’s report provides a clear roadmap for action that must be followed immediately.
”
Earlier…
Irish newspaper ads for children in 1960s and 1970s
This morning.
A report to be published later today on the practice of illegal adoptions in Ireland will recommend the establishment of a State inquiry.
Via RTÉ News:
The report, by Prof Conor O’Mahony. the Government’s Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, will also advise that those affected by illegal birth registrations should receive a State apology.
Last year, following an RTÉ investigation that examined how thousands of Irish babies were illegally adopted over several decades, the Government commissioned the report to advise on next steps.
The report, which was seen by RTÉ Investigates, concludes the State was aware of the criminal offence of illegal birth registrations for many decades. Successive governments, it finds, repeatedly failed to adequately remedy these human rights violations.
It adds that inaction has exacerbated the impact on affected individuals and denied many the opportunity to connect with biological family members.
Meanwhile..,
It also calls for the Government to acquire and centralise all adoption files in one location, including files that are currently in private ownership.
This should be followed by a targeted investigation to determine the scale of illegal adoptions here and to inform those affected.
In response to Prof O’Mahony’s recommendations, RTÉ Investigates understands that the Government will concede a State apology should be forthcoming. It has also committed to a scheme of one-off payments of €3,000 to individuals affected by illegal birth registrations.
Report on illegal adoptions to recommend State inquiry (RTE)
Previously: Cherishing The Children Equally
The national and local newspapers gladly earned revenue from publishing these adverts. Can it be said that indifferent journalism at the time was part of the illegal adoption practice?
One boy,
Boy for sale.
He’s going cheap.
Only seven guineas.
That — or thereabouts.
Small boy…
Rather pale…
Through lack of sleep.
Feed him gruel dinners.
Stop him getting stout.
If I should say he wasn’t very greedy…
I could not, I’d be telling you a tale.
One boy,
Boy for sale.
Come take a peep.
Have you ever seen as
Nice
A boy
For sale.
Human trafficking or Church style slave trading? Either way it illustrates the complete amorality of the Irish establishment.
There’s a lovely man lives near us who was “adopted” by a farmer and his wife. He was used like a work horse on their farm. The farmer himself wasnt too bad and was, if nothing else, appreciative of the work he did but his wife physically and mentally abused him every day that he was there. He was allowed visit his mother rarely in the home and eventually she passed away in there. When she got Ill the nuns told him to bring money as she could no longer work for her keep and the farmer gave him some behind the wife’s back. He said he met with others who had been “adopted” over the years and a lot of their stories were similar. Some of the people who were adopting these children were not looking for a child and would never think of these children as equals but as free labour.
Sure, just rub a small bit of money on it and it’ll be grand.
Everyone kind of knew this was happening at the time. Same as everyone kind of knows now what Tusla is doing.
Cry me a river and move on with the blessing of life.
A bad adoption is immeasurably better than being murdered before birth, as many crossed the water to the UK back street butchers.
A set of of pliers opening an unborn babies head, without anaesthetic, before the brain is sucked out with a vacuum is supposed to be the mark of civilised society?
Or being born premature and alive, as a baby called William, in the 70’s was, but left to die on a hospital draining board, unattended.
I am thankful that I am here today, and was not casually tossed into a hospital incinerator wrapped in a bin bag as so many promising souls are today.
I recall hearing in church 30 years ago, and I paraphrase, “whatever you do unto the smallest of my children, you do unto me.” That always struck a chord with me.
Humans have made paradise a hell on earth; clearly those that follow the mantra of “do what thou whilst, shall be the whole of the law”, have the upper hand today, but there is always hope whilst still breathing.
I would say the mark of a civilised society would be one wherein single (or partnered) mothers are not discriminated in the workforce, given access to free childcare (allowing them to pursue a career), given free healthcare for them and their children, and not saddled with the full responsibility of raising a child in the well told tale of father’s disappearing and not claiming responsibility for their child. A world where women don’t suffer the threat of harassment or physical abuse hanging over them from ex (or current) partners that they share children with. I also think a world where a woman that doesn’t want to have a child should be able to make that decision for themselves (without judgment) via availing of an abortion. Unfortunately we’re not there yet. You should think about this from a more empathetic situation, and from the (many differing) perspectives of a woman in the situation.
+1
Your boss wants a word:
https://twitter.com/Pontifex/status/1502993906371334147