Sir, – Dr Ruth-Blandina Quinn (February 5th) is correct when she states, "many of these [adoption] records were misfiled, incomplete or fabricated". We know the 1952 Adoption Act was used and abused by those in charge with "the end justifies the means" attitude. They were answerable to no-one and could do what they wanted. More adopted adults are now coming forward with proof their adoptions were illegal and this is only coming to the fore because they searched to find their birth mothers themselves. In fact, the majority of adoptions in Ireland were forced, whereby the mother was given no alternative but to hand over her child and sign adoption papers.
However, Dr Quinn goes on to state, “Far too often, adoption is perceived from the child’s perspective, not the birth mother’s”. Not in Ireland. Here the birth mother’s right is absolute and has been since 1952. The child was the last person to be thought about in adoption in Ireland in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
Dr Quinn mistakes privacy and openness with privacy and secrecy. We can know who we are related to, know our identity, know our family, our history and yet respect our mother’s right to privacy. But, in Ireland, still, it remains privacy with secrecy.
It is not the fault of the adopted person that (in Dr Quinn’s words) “ladies now in their 70s and 80s . . . fear that knock on the door”. We didn’t ask to be someone else’s shame, someone else’s secret. That was their decision, not ours, and adopted adults refuse to carry this so-called burden on their shoulders. You cannot erase someone’s identity simply because it might make someone else uncomfortable.
My own birth mother was one of those ladies who Dr Quinn mentioned “fearing the knock on the door”. That knock came in 2011, from me, her daughter, following a year of letters and a neutral third party talking with her. I spoke to her for an hour and was then asked to leave. She admitted it benefited her and that now she can “move on” as she has nothing to fear any more. She said she always knew that one day I would come. I have respected her right to privacy. She knows how to contact me should she wish. She would be made very welcome into my life if she changes her mind.
I’m one of the lucky ones. I have answers to some of my questions – not all, but I know how lucky I am compared to others and I will do everything in my power to see the day that this lovely country of mine recognises my right as a citizen to know my identity and give me access to my file. I know my mother, I’ve met her and yet I’m told I cannot have access to my file to “protect the identity of my mother”. – Yours, etc,
GRAINNE MASON,
Marlton Demesne,
Wicklow.