Sir, Your thoughtful editorial (April 12th) raised many of the issues which the Adoptive Parents Association of Ireland (APAI) has been at pains to point out for many years. It is exactly one year since we told the Ministers, Mrs Niamh Bhreathnach and Mr Austin Currie, that we would hold them to their promises to provide access to information to people who were adopted, fostered and raised in institutions (Irish Times, April, 1996). How long more must we wait for the State to take responsibility for adoption matters, instead of forever passing the buck to someone else?
It is important to remember that today's standards were not yesterday's. Even 15 or 20 years ago, many women had a very real fear - often justified - that should - the family find out about the pregnancy, they would be banished as a bad example to others, and would, of course, be, unmarriageable.
To protect themselves, some women gave assumed names in "mother and baby" homes, with the child being registered under that surname. In their own interests, we hope that these women would contact the adoption societies or Adoption Board in confidence with the correct information, so that their files can be amended. It is our experience that the truth safeguards these mothers, allowing for delicate, unobtrusive contact by professional people, whereas false information sometimes drives the searcher to relentless pursuit of the real story, using unorthodox means - and to hell with the consequences!
It is unfair to single out one adoption society and demonise one individual with regard to misinformation. Every single agency, both religious and state run, would have false information in some of their files, which is why a properly run, national contact register is urgently required.
This would empower the birth mothers and the adopted people to exchange the information they need without jeopardising anyone's peace of mind. By providing appropriate counselling services to the birth mothers, those who, bare still afraid of revealing their past may find reassurance in corresponding through a third party, and meeting in privacy, on "neutral ground", rather than having someone land on their doorstep.
With regard to the follow up article by Padraig O Morain citing positive stories about St Patrick's Guild, may I add the following personal comment? Thousands of happy families are very grateful to those birth mothers who place their children for adoption through St Patrick's Guild, and grateful also to Sr Gabriel for her kindness, accessibility, and respectful attitude to the first mothers of our children. (HG) - Yours, etc.,
Hon. secretary, APAI, Annamoe,
Co Wicklow.
PRO APAI,
Piercetown, Dunboyne, Co Meath.