Philomena campaigns to uncover archives of adoptions
THE woman who inspired the Oscarnominated film Philomena is to lead a campaign aimed at shaming the State into opening secret records on 60,000 forced adoptions.
Philomena Lee’s extraordinary story of her 50 year search for her late son Anthony has become the catalyst for a renewed battle to get access to birth certificates held by churches, religious orders, private agencies and health authorities.
Ms Lee’s harrowing story is one of tens of thousands from stolen generations hidden from society in Mother and Baby Homes.
Speaking in Dublin yesterday she said: ‘They told Anthony I had left him at two weeks old, that I had abandoned him. I reared him to three and a half years, he was a lovely little boy.’
‘But I never got any answers to anything. I never knew anything about him at all. It was very sad to find out he had passed away but at last I had found him. I pray to him every day, I talk to him.’
Ms Lee became pregnant aged 18 and gave birth to a son in July 1952 in the Sean Ross Abbey in Roscrea, Co. Tipperary. Aged three, mother and son were forcibly separated and he was sold for adoption to the US.
She and her daughter, Jane Libberton, have founded the Philomena Project to lobby Irish, UK and US politicians and the United Nations to force the release of birth records.
The film tells of her tragic search for her son who she finds out has died but had been buried in the home in Roscrea which he visited several times in a bid to find her.
She is planning to attend the Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles where the film is in the running for four awards including best picture, and best actress for Dame Judi Dench.
‘The film does really relate to my story. I seriously hope that Judi will get an Oscar for it, she played me so well. Lots of funny bits in the film, laughter and tears,’ Ms Lee said.
The scandal of forced adoptions has been compared to the Mag- dalene laundries whose survivors received a state apology last year.
Ms Lee said she does not want any other mother or child to face a
‘Philomena’s story continues’
wall of silence when searching for records.
Susan Lohan, co- founder of Adoption Rights Alliance, said politicians will now be held to ac- count at home and abroad thanks to the film’s success and the new campaign.
‘Philomena has acted as a touchstone now to give this more publicity. We think the vast, vast majority of children were taken without their mother’s consent and we need to talk about forced adoption’ she said.
Martin Sixsmith, author of The Lost Child of Philomena Lee which led to the film, said: ‘Philomena’s story continues today with many women who went through this.’