Courts / Carlow / Report

Mother says nun told her: "adopted children never want anything to do with their birth parents"

Date
2018-07-04
Stage
Trial
Primary locality
Tullow
County
Carlow

Summary

In a High Court hearing, Tressa Donnelly Reeves, who had spent over five decades searching for her son, testified that a nun from St Patrick's Guild told her that adopted children, especially boys, "never want anything to do with their birth parents." Reeves, who gave birth to a boy named Andre in 1961, had him adopted by a family in Carlow and named Patrick Farrell. She claimed the adoption was unlawful and that St Patrick's Guild, run by Catholic nuns and the State, made false statements about Patrick's location and failed to provide her with information. The society denies the allegations, and the State says it is not liable. The court has allowed Reeves to continue presenting evidence, with a ruling on the application to strike out the claim pending. The case is set to proceed next week.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Mother says nun told her: "adopted children never want anything to do with their birth parents". Procedural stage: trial

When:

Case subjects

St Patrick

Applicant

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • High Court
Secondary Mention

Topics

Stage Trial

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