Adoption Rights Alliance....regaining identities, histories and rights for adopted people in Ireland

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“In all of us there is a hunger, marrow-deep, to know our heritage — to know who we are and where we have come from. Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning . . . and the most disquieting loneliness.”

Alex Haley, Author of Roots

News........

1st September 2010

Article archives updated

Bill slated by adoptees and birth parents
Conall O'Fatharta's article on the reaction to the passing of the 2009 Adoption Bill

Government inaction revealed over child vaccine trials
Irish Central article on the recent coverage of the vaccine trials

Lynott's son's joy as Phil's family recognise him
The story of Phil Lynott's son who was given up for adoption, whose natural family have finally acknowledged him.

"Philomena Lynott overcame extraordinary odds to raise her beloved 'only boy'. Now she tells of the second son and daughter she gave up for adoption - and why she kept them secret for 50 years." Click here to read the article from the Daily Mail

Adoption heartbreak
Excerpt from a new book from an Irish adopted person (published in the Irish Independent)

Whatever happened to Jane's baby?
2009 article from the Irish Independent

Woman denied pill on "religious" basis
Has Ireland moved on from the dark days? Claire O'Sullivan's article above suggests that in some quarters we have a long way to go.

27th August 2010

Vaccine Trials
Continued coverage of the vaccine trials scandal uploaded. Click here for further details. If you have been affected by this issue please feel free to contact us.

20th August 2010

Irish Independent Articles on Adoption
Today's Irish Independent has a number of articles on the vaccine trials that some adopted people were subjected to. Click here for further details. See tomorrow's Irish Independent for more on Mari Steed's story.

14th August 2010

Irish Examiner Articles
Click here for Carol O'Keeffe's story and Conall O'Fatharta's continuing exposé of the Adoption Board past and present.

Scroll further for o

lder news....

Sign the Petition for Equal Rights for Irish Adopted People
-remember, every name counts-

12th August 2010

Civil servant to take over Adoption Board reins
Click here for further details from Conall O'Fatharta of the Irish Examiner.

4th August 2010

Helpline
Please note, at the moment we are behind in responding to messages on the helpline. We will endeavour to get back to you as soon as possible. The reason for the delay is because we are all volunteers and simply haven't had time to keep up with demand. We apologise for any inconvenience. For urgent queries email us at info@adoptionrightsalliance.com

23rd July 2010

Adoption Board CEO, John Collins has stepped down
Read Conall O'Fatharta's piece in today's Irish Examiner for further details.

2nd July 2010

Adoption Board Website
The Adoption Board now has a new website:

http://www.aai.gov.ie

1st July 2010

Adoption Bill
The Adoption Bill passed through the Dail on Wednesday 29th June. A debate is expected in the Seanad on Friday 2nd July. Adopted people are extremely disappointed that this Bill contains no provision for their rights. The campaign will continue into the summer to ensure that Barry Andrews follows through on his commitment to bring forward an Information Bill.

Watch this space for developments.

12th June 2010

Help Needed!
Please sign the petition for justice for Magdalene survivors!
Visit Justice for Magdalenes for details

11th June 2010

Articles Uploaded

IN IRELAND: Adoption authorities to audit tracing records
Conall O'Fatharta reports that the Adoption Board has confirmed it is to carry out an audit of its information and tracing service records to identify any cases involving illegal activity.

INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION: A Chennai slum dweller's fight for her Dutch son
The story of an Indian woman's fight against the illegal abduction of her son for intercountry adoption by a Dutch couple.

Click here to read the articles

Click here to visit Against Child Trafficking's (ACT) website to learn how to help.

9th June 2010

Illegal Adoptions
In light of Adoption Board chairman Geoffrey Shannon's commitment to deal with the issue of illegal adoptions on RTÉ’s Prime Time (May 20^th, 2010) we are advising people who were illegally adopted and natural parents whose sons/daughers were illegally adopted, to contact Geoffrey Shannon. Click here for further details.

Openness and Transparency
On 31st May 2010 Adoption Rights Alliance wrote to Geoffrey Shannon and the Adoption Board regarding the issue of illegal adoptions, specifically referring to one particular case which the Board (previously under the chairmanship of Jim O'Sullivan) has ignored for five years (despite being alerted by us in 2005). To date, no response or acknowledgement has been received. Click here for specific questions put to the Adoption Board.

Articles Uploaded
Evening Herald article showing Joan Burton's efforts to achieve legislative change in adoption. Click here to read more.

Adoption in the Media
New videos uploaded click here to view.

4th June 2010

1901 Census
Millions get access to free census records while adopted people are denied basic human rights. Adopted people are outraged as Mary Hanafin, the same minister who sought to criminalise them, glibly acknowledges the importance of being rooted and having access to history and heritage. Click here for Claire McGettrick's reaction and click here for the Irish Times report.

Adoption Bill
The Adoption Bill is adjourned for the moment. Check back soon for news of the next Report Stage debate.

Adoption in the Media
New videos uploaded click here to view.

2nd June 2010

The Impact of Secrets and Lies
Click here to read John Waters' article in the Irish Times which demonstrates the heartbreaking impact of upholding a state imposed culture of secrets and lies.

1st June 2010

Adoption Bill Report (Final) Stage
Report Stage of the Adoption Bill is taking place tomorrow, 2nd June after 11.30am. Please contact your local TDs and ask them to consider adopted people's rights in their deliberations on the Bill. Click here for details on how to help. To view the debate live from Dáil Éireann click here

27th May 2010

Adoption Bill Report (Final) Stage
Report Stage of the Adoption Bill commenced today and is now adjourned until next week. This means it's not too late to contact your local TDs and ask them to consider adopted people's rights in the Adoption Bill. Click here for details on how to help.

Support
Details of an upcoming support meeting in the Co. Clare area uploaded here.

Helpline/Email Queries
Apologies if you are awaiting an email or phone response from us. We are extremely busy at the moment and will get back to you as soon as we can.

26th May 2010

Adoption Bill Report (Final) Stage
Report Stage of the Adoption Bill is taking place tomorrow, 27th May at 10.30am. Please contact your local TDs and ask them to consider adopted people's rights in their deliberations on the Bill. Click here for details on how to help. To view the debate live from Dáil Éireann click here

25th May 2010

Media Appearances:

Radio interview with Susan Lohan of Adoption Rights Alliance here

22nd May 2010

Media Appearances:

Prime Time and MidWeek videos uploaded here

21st May 2010

Press Release:

Adoption Rights Alliance Welcomes Shannon’s Commitment to Deal with Illegal Adoptions

20th May 2010

RTÉ's Prime Time will cover adoption tonight. Click here to watch online

Adoption judgements uploaded here and background/other legislation uploaded here

Report stage of the Adoption Bill is taking place next week. Click here to see how you can help

17th May 2010

Apologies if you are awaiting an email or phone response from us. We are extremely busy at the moment and will get back to you as soon as we can.

11th May 2010

Please click here for a word of caution about inexperienced Search Angels

4th May 2010

New blog by Mari Steed added:

Adopted 'Children' and Parents: at age 50?

Keep scrolling for previous news...............2nd May 2010

Letters to Barry Andrews:
Click here for letters to Barry Andrews written by adopted people and their families

30th April 2010

New parliamentary question added - click here

Media Appearances Updated:
Click here for newly uploaded media appearances

29th April 2010

Media Appearances:
Click here for newly uploaded media appearances

28th April 2010

Adopted People are demanding medical cards for themselves and their children so long as the government, the Adoption Board and the adoption agencies conspire to keep our medical histories secret thus obstructing us from taking preventative measures with regard to hereditary diseases.

Click on the thumbnails below for examples of the attitude towards adopted people's medical history. One says: "Fam Hx: (ie family history) not relevant (adopted)" and the other says "Fhx (ie family history) parents* well. She's adopted". These scans are from actual medical files.
(*refers to adoptive parents)

Can you think of any other scenario where this is acceptable? Why is this considered acceptable treatment for adopted people?

Come back soon for further news on this campaign.

26th April 2010

Click here for an open letter to Barry Andrews by Claire McGettrick

Adoption Board Website:
The Adoption Board website has been deemed a threat by both Google and Mozilla Firefox for over a week and counting. In the meantime their website is unavailable to those who need it. See the screenshots below.

25th April 2010

Website updated with the latest media appearances and articles

21st April 2010

Click here for the latest Irish Examiner article on adoption

Click here for Claire McGettrick's interview on KFM

20th April 2010

Click here for Susan Lohan's interview on 1038FM

The Irish Examiner adoption series continues. Click here for the article (Note, not everything will appear in the online edition). - Adoption Rights Alliance Opinion Piece now uploaded!

Click here for an additional section from the Irish Examiner today containing anecdotal evidence regarding agencies.

19th April 2010

Click here to hear Tressa Reeves' interview with Matt Cooper on Today FM

Illegally Adopted? If you were illegally adopted contact Adoption Rights Alliance and visit our Search & Reunion page to download the Tracing Handbook for Persons Illegally Adopted

Click here for a statement from Adoption Rights Alliance on Illegal Adoptions

Please see today's Irish Examiner for an exposé of illegal adoption practices in Ireland.

Click here for a letter in today's Irish Times about adoption and for online versions and scanned copies of today's Irish Examiner articles (please note there are extra sections in the printed version). Also scroll to an article from yesterday's Sunday Tribune with an update on Tristan Dowse.

18th April 2010

Reading list updated here

Interested in learning more about your adoption history and heritage? For history, information and photos of mother and baby homes, visit our history and heritage page. Click here to learn more.

17th April 2010

Recent articles and letters uploaded here including today's Irish Times feature on adoption.

Scroll down further for older news........

13th April 2010

Details of support meeting to be held Thurs April 15th in Co. Clare added here

10th April 2010

New articles uploaded on the Russian adoption situation. Click here.

9th April 2010

Unwanted Adopted Boy Sent Back To Russia

Mercy Nuns in Australia Apologise for Illegal Adoptions

When will their Irish counterparts follow suit?

29th March 2010

If you would like to leave the Roman Catholic Church visit Count Me Out to find out more

26th March 2010

Visit Justice for Magdalenes for the latest news on redress for Magdalene Laundry survivors

16th March 2010

New blog added:

A New Ireland with a lot to learn
(In response to the extract from Nell McCafferty’s book, Irish Times 8th March 2010)
by Claire McGettrick

12th March 2010

Irish Examiner article by Conall O'Fátharta:

Adoption Bill ‘ignores tracing rights’

11th March 2010

New blog added:

Ireland's 'first wave of intercountry adoptions'??
by Mari Steed

10th March 2010

Press Release:

Adoption/Children’s Rights Organisations Unite to Challenge Adoption Bill

Adoption Rights Alliance has joined with other adoption/children's rights organisations to urge Barry Andrews to amend the Adoption Bill - click the link above to read more.

8th March 2010

Excellent extract from Nell McCafferty's book published in today's Irish Times added here

7th March 2010

Article added here and opinion piece written in reaction to the article by Claire McGettrick here.

5th March 2010

Article added here relating to the death of another adopted Russian child

4th March 2010

We are now operating a helpline.

If you have a tracing query, need advice or if you have a complaint you wish to pursue contact us at

+353 (0)86 2359127

Please note we operate the helpline on a messaging service basis, so please leave us a message and we will get back to you as soon as possbible. If you have a particular time that suits you for a phone call back, please let us know in the message.

2nd March 2010

Parliamentary Questions submitted by Joan Burton TD (Lab) on behalf of Adoption Rights Alliance

Adoption Rights Alliance is a completely voluntary, non-funded organisation. If you would like to make a donation to help cover our expenses you can send a cheque to:

Adoption Rights Alliance
The Mill House,
Millview Road,
Malahide,
Co. Dublin