Paul Jude Redmond - The Adoption Machine: The Dark History of Irelands Mother and Baby Homes and the Inside Story of How Tuam 800 Became a Global Scandal

___ The ___

ADOPTION

M ACHI NE

For my favorite girl Molly and my little man Gavin,
my healers and the meaning of my life

For Siobhn, the love of my life

Dedicated to my parents
Jack and Anita Redmond

Paul Redmond was born in Castlepollard Mother and Baby Home in December 1964. Chairperson of the survivor umbrella group, the Coalition of Mother and Baby home Survivors (CMABS), Paul also produced the very first report highlighting the mortality rates and general cruelty in the Homes and calling for a public inquiry. After the Tuam 800 story broke, he was instrumental in working with the media to increase the public and political attention on the other Mother and Baby Homes and their mortality rates. He continues to advocate tirelessly on behalf of all survivors of Irelands wider, forced adoption network.

___ The ___

ADOPTION

M ACHI NE

THE DARK HISTORY OF IRELANDS
MOTHER AND BABY HOMES AND THE INSIDE STORY
OF HOW TUAM 800 BECAME A GLOBAL SCANDAL

PAUL JUDE REDMOND

First published in 2018 by

Merrion Press

An imprint of Irish Academic Press

10 Georges Street

Newbridge

Co. Kildare

Ireland

www.merrionpress.ie

Paul Jude Redmond, 2018

9781785371776 (Paper)

9781785371783 (Kindle)

9781785371790 (Epub)

9781785371806 (PDF)

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

An entry can be found on request

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

An entry can be found on request

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved alone, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

Interior design by www.jminfotechindia.com

Typeset in Minion Pro 11.5/14.5 pt

Cover design by www.phoenix-graphicdesign.com

Cover/jacket front: A shrine in Tuam, Co. Galway, on 9 June 2014, erected in memory of up to 800 children who were allegedly buried at the site of the former home for unmarried mothers run by nuns. Paul Faith/Getty Images.

Cover/jacket back: A homemade nail in the wall at Castlepollard Mother and Baby Home Angels Plot. The workmen hammered these nails into the wall every time they buried a baby, as a memorial. Kim Haughton/ The Sunday Times .

Contents

PART 1
BACKGROUND AND FOUNDATIONS, 17391944

PART 2
IN LIVING MEMORY, 19441990

PART 3
CAMPAIGNING, 19902013

PART 4
BREAKTHROUGH, 20142017

Acknowledgements

This book would not have been possible without so many people. Some do not wish to be named but they know they are in my thoughts and my heart.

Family: Susan, John, Martin and Alan Redmond. Barbara, Roger, Sharon, Judith. Ciara and Jamie; Jake, Jodie and Caleb; Mark, Amie and Laureen. And I nearly forgot Gemma and Shannon and Shane. All the Redmonds, Darcys, Finns, Sinnotts, Whittys, Curtises and Fortunes scattered around the world. For Dolly Costello, and all the family and remembering Willie Costello (RIP). Hi to all the Merciers and thanks to Paul and Mel for all the encourgagement and advice!

Friends: Peter Circut 3 Fitzpatrick and all the Fitzpatricks, Pat Pappie Donovan, Neil Michael, Mary ODonovan, Antonella Brusco, Ruair ODwyer, and a special Hey! Hey! to Liam, Tatjana and Felix Bodenhamski!

The entire Castlepollard group thanks to all of you for your love and support over the years brothers and sisters particularly: especially Geraldine Cronin, Ruth Noonan, Paul, Jenny from Wexford, Michelle from Wexford!, Chris Finnegan, Mary Creighton, Mary Borg, Kim Fleming and Mary W., Bernie McG, Mary Bookie Kenny, Mike Byrne, Una ONeill-DArcy, Ken and Marion Matthews, the heroic Ray Loftus and his brilliant crib mate Mal K. Gerry Russel, Rosie Rogers, playwright Jacqueline Nolan, Joseph Ennis, Michelle and Liam and Philip Burke, the very special Rita Kelty and the wonderful Christy, my special twinnie Ann Harrington and all the 64 babes. Geraldine McArdle, Mary ODonovan, Ciaran Adams, Susan Flanagan, Marita Maher Ryan, Carmel Ziemann, Declan Kelly, Jackie Keegan, Stephen Quinn, Theresa Carroll, David Cretzan, Marie McGee, Noreen Briddigkeit Quinn, Mary Joyce, James Dowd, David Rogers, Ann F. Boukater, Margot McG, John Hegarty, Mary Mulligan, Mono Monaghan, Nancy Polka, Anne Larrigan, Irene McGuire, John Ginty, Jennifer Hayden, Mary Nasri, Fiona Crosbie, Peter Shelton, Lily Bracken, Rosaleen Toher-Ginty and Mickey (RIP), Kateleen Tuite, Fidelma Mullen, Maeve Hackett, Jenny Leavy, Mary Butt, Maureen Nelson McGovern, Manon McGinty, Marion Hoban, Jimmy Malone, Michael Fitzpatrick, Kelley Blaylock, Bert Versey.

A special shout to the 67 party girls, Princess Miriam Barry, Edel Morrison, Laureen Murphy-Shaw. Our Banished brothers and sisters: Ann Biggs, Kevin Di Palma, Frank Uccelini, Patrick Wolfe, Mike and Mary Kay Daniel (best hugs ever!!), Mary Beth Cronin Ferrini and family, Patricia Zuclich-Ford, Winnie (RIP), Judi VanBuskirk, Michael Terence Murphy, Marge Skinner, Kathleen Kampmann Tach, Maureen Collins Giordano, Maureen Dillon-Bowers, Mary Murry-Alexander, Linda Boyd-McCullough, John R. Hoge, Erin McCormack-Staats, Tom Ferstle, and Jimmy and Charmaine Walsh (welcome home, guys!). And everyone else in the group.

The Coalition of Mother And Baby home Survivors (CMABS): the incredable Derek Leinster, the fabulous Clodagh Malone, the fighting Theresa Hiney Tinggal, and all our friends: the wonderful Rosemary Adazer and sticky bun Margeret McGuckin! Carol Linster, Nancy Saur, Colleen Anderson, Joyce McSharry, Victor Stephenson (RIP), Dr. Niall Meehan.

Wider community: the wonderful Therese Nolan, Finbarr ORegan, Christopher Kirwan, Karl OKelly, Anthony Kelly, Ruth shoes and strong coffee now!, Mercy B. River, Linda Dublin and Maria Keating-Dumbell, Adrian McKenna and the fabulous Maria Teresa Mullen.

To Maureen Sullivan, hero of the Magdalene Laundries and a special shout out to Rose OBrien Harrington and her Aunt Ester who spent 70 years in a Magdalene Laundry and all the Magdalene Ladies.

All the industrial school survivors and their supporters, Jack C., Robert Artane, Oliver Whelan, San A., Rob Nortall, John Deegan and Sean Boswell.

Supportive people and organisations: Michael Nugent, Ashling OBrien, Jane Donnelly, Milana Milasaukaite-Kearns, Philip Garland and Audrey Muddiman. Best wishes to our northern brothers and sisters still fighting for justice. A very special thank you to everyone at the the Public Interest Law Alliance.

Media: Tanya Gold, Sharon Lawless and all at Flawless Films, Conall Ftharta, Joe Little and crew, Claire Scott, Steven OGorman and Alison OReilly.

Political: A very very special shout to the totally awesome Clare Daly TD and brilliant Rhona McCord. Also Mary Lou McDonald TD, Robert Troy TD, Gerry Adams TD, Colm Keavney TD and Anne Rabbit TD and Billy Kelleher TD and everyone in all the offices.

The international crew: Martha Shideler, Warren Musselman, Gwen Berndt Soldelius, Princess Julia Freebourne, Clayton and Jes, and all the Adoption Voices crew especially Caroline DAgostino, Kate Mitchell, and the ever generous Jacqui Haycroft, June Hamilton, Lisa Floyd (x), Maggie Watanabe, Cat Henderson, Lesley Pearse, Maggie Smith, Julie Kelly from Anti Adoption; Mary Macaskill Cannon, and Lizzy Howard and btw, youre all mad bastards, just like me lol. A very special thanks to Georgiana perfect timing Macavie and Valerie Andrews and all the international Origins crew. Huge shout out for the Vance Twins, Jenette and Janine, you rock!! Arun Doyle (Against Child Trafficking), Rolie Post and all the hardcore activists around the world.