Audio: Invasion of the Baby Snatchers

[Fintan]

2nd July, 2014

Lorraine Dusky - Kathy McMahon

Lorraine Dusky, USA and Kathy McMahon, Ireland
speak with Fintan Dunne about the heartbreaks
and joys of adoption and reconnection.

SEE ALSO
First Mothers Forum - Lorraine
Irish First Mothers Group - Kathy

LISTEN on DSL:
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LISTEN on Dialup:
Dialup Mp3 Audio
http://FintanDunne.com/audio/BeautifulT ... Dialup.mp3
Click to Play or Right-Click to Save / Download.

[Fintan]

Fintan who??..........

Yeah, apologies to listeners, forum readers and posters for my absence
(other than tweets) over the last month. But there's been something big
going down and Kathy and yours truly have somehow been
at the heart of it.......


The seeds of all this were laid last year with the movie
Philomena - the tale of an Irish unwed mother whose
infant son was "exported" from Ireland to the USA
by way of the often-lucrative adoption trade.

<iframe id="ytplayer" type="text/html" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rG3QP8foCvg" frameborder="0"></iframe>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG3QP8foCvg

Despite the success of the movie, the many secrets similar to that tale
would still have remained unexplored --but around a month ago, the
grisly truth went out worldwide that Irish 'mother and baby' homes for
unwed mothers had infant mortality rates often 600% higher than normal
- and mass graves for the unfortunates who perished:

I found nuns' secret grave for 800 babies':
By Philomena writer MARTIN SIXSMITH
7 June 2014

...On a grey, rainy afternoon, I was taken to a patch of land in the centre
of one such estate. Surrounded by houses built in the 1970s, on the edge
of a scruffy playground, I found a plaster statue of the Madonna on a pile
of stones, incongruously sheltered by an old enamel bathtub.

Beneath it were the bodies of nearly 800 babies.

The remains of a forbidding 8ft wall nearby were a clue to the place's
history. Until 1961 this had been the site of a Catholic religious
community run by the Sisters of Bon Secours.....

ALSO:
Mass septic tank grave 'containing the skeletons of 800 babies'
at site of Irish home for unmarried mothers

BTW/ A woman still searching for a long-lost infant and a journalist?...
Curiously, that was Kathy and I years ago!? (Kathy has since reunited
with the daughter she was coerced into giving up many years ago.)

Because of her own experience, Kathy was prevailed upon to launch
a Facebook group for Irish First Mothers(biological) who needed a place
to share and support and counsel each other. There was a flood of mothers
joining up, and more in a public Facebook Voice for First Mothers for the
campaign for truth, justice and reconciliation.

Two weeks ago, the real-life Philomena Lee on whom the movie is based,
was nearby, and she and Kathy met and discussed their experiences.

<iframe id="ytplayer" type="text/html" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2HPx11L83fM" frameborder="0"></iframe>


On talk radio, print and TV, the long kept secrets began coming out.

The floodgates had opened and before long Kathy was meeting with political
leaders to put the mother's case - as Ireland now prepares to set up
a special commission of inquiry into all of this. I've been doing the
PR/media for the mother's group.

What follows below tracks our recent involvement:

How Many Babies Fit In An Irish Septic Tank?

News that between 1925 and 1961 around 800 deceased 'illegitimate' babies
had been interred in a septic tank by Irish Catholic nuns, has by now swept
around the world. But, back in Ireland, the quibbling has already begun.
http://fintandunne.blogspot.ie/2014/06/ ... -tank.html

http://www.thejournal.ie/kathy-mcmahon- ... 5-Jun2014/

"My sister came in and offered to hold the baby while I was getting dressed.
So my sister is walking up and down with the baby and I turn around to get
something off the bed. When I turn back, there’s a nurse leaving the
room with my baby. I said to my sister “where’s she gone?”….

And she said “she’s gone”."

TWICE A RESIDENT of the country’s network of mother-and-baby homes,
Kathy McMahon gave birth to her first child 40 years ago last month – but
knew her daughter for just a few days before her baby was taken from
her and put up for adoption.

A second child was born 18 months later – but despite the wishes and
efforts of many around her, this time she fought the attempts to have
her baby taken away, and struck out on her own.

She’s telling her story now because, she says, “the time’s right”. She says
someone needs to stand up for the thousands of ‘First Mothers’ who gave
birth in mother-and-baby homes all over the country.

[Kathy was] part of a group of survivors, campaigners and academics that
met with Children’s Minister Charlie Flanagan during the week to give their
input on the terms of the statutory inquiry into mother-and-baby homes
set up in the wake of the Tuam controversy.

Kathy sat down with TheJournal.ie to tell her story…



READ HER STORY:
http://www.thejournal.ie/kathy-mcmahon- ... 5-Jun2014/

HOW IRELAND SNATCHED MY BEAUTIFUL BABY
I was tried and fraudulently found guilty in the kangaroo courts of Catholic Ireland -
and I was sentenced to have my own flesh and blood torn from me.

READ FULL STORY: http://bit.ly/HowIrelandSnatchedMyBaby

The authoritarianism which stomped all over the lives of these
mothers is still embedded in our society and politics today.

Shining a light on the past -
illuminates the ills of the present.

Power and authority will shudder from more earthquakes yet.

This is only the BEGINNING.

[kiwikeith]

Good discussion.
Great touching verse at the end Fintan.

I was born in a Salvation Army ward for unmarried mothers in Wellington NZ and adopted out so I was one of those babies probably taken from their mother. I never knew my birth parents.

I sent this link to my sister to read and listen to, as she was adopted out to the same family.

Here is her reply:

When I was running the Gold Coast Adoption Support Group [Australia] I assisted people from all around the world. I don't quite know how I got so connected, even before the days of internet but I had phone calls every day and hear similar horrendous stories from birthmothers - I was blindfolded and never saw my baby; I was told my baby died (and she didn't); the doctor arranged for my baby to go to a nice Christian couple and the birth was never registered in my name; I was told it was in my baby's best interest; they told me not to be so selfish; I was treated like dirt, like I should be ashamed of myself; and so on.

Untold pain and misery as a result of do-gooders, judgemental religious sentiment, oh please don't get me started.

Another good film "Oranges and Sunshine" based on the true story of Margaret Humphreys, a social worker from Nottingham who uncovered the scandal of "home children” a scheme of forcibly relocating poor children from the United Kingdom to Australia and Canada is great too.

[Fintan]

Thanks so much for the background info and
hats off to your sis who was a true pioneer.

Of course, all this is not just historical interest.
It's STILL going on?!?

And we were already planning to explore these
issues in AUS and NZ, even before this came
out... .... just today!?

Leaked documents show hundreds of sexual assault
allegations in Victoria's children's homes

By the National Reporting Team's Dan Oakes
Updated 2 hours 41 minutes ago

Hundreds of alleged rapes, sexual assaults and instances of sexual
exploitation were reported across Victoria's out-of-home care network
over the course of a year, according to internal documents.

The figures, obtained by the ABC, lay bare the extent of sexual abuse of
children who have been placed in the care of the state.

They show that there were 98 alleged rapes reported by children
in the out-of-home care network in the year to March.

There were also 96 indecent assaults reported, and 73 instances of sexual
exploitation, which refers to providing sex in return for things such as
cigarettes, alcohol and money.

Recent revelations in court hearings about the reporting practices of the
agencies that run the units suggest that the real figures could, in fact,
be higher.

The ABC revealed earlier this year that gangs of paedophiles and single
opportunist sex offenders are targeting children in out-of-home care on a
regular basis, giving them drugs, alcohol and other goods in return for
sex....

EMBED: Chart: Critical Incident Reports by type

Howard Draper, a lawyer who has acted in the Children's Court for
decades, said the assault figures shocked him, and cast further doubt
over the whole system.

"I think all of us, the lawyers, the child protection workers the magistrates,
the Minister, Department of Human Services, everyone has to take stock
of what we're doing," he said.

"Quite frankly I think the whole system is broken. It needs
to be thrown up in the air and we need to start again."

Minister for Community Services Mary Wooldridge said any sexual
assault of a child in care was unacceptable and that staff and carers
worked every day to prevent it.

However, she said she did not believe it was a systemic problem..... <----

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-03/d ... es/5570166

SIGN PETITION:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/To ... _children/

There is a pattern of intervention in family structures
in USA, Canada, Britain, Australia and NZ.

The results are mostly a social disaster.

It needs to be challenged and stopped.

[James D]

Same story in Spain - Thousands of babies stolen and sold.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15335899
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQdSfobqYO8

<iframe id="ytplayer" type="text/html" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FKx5q4v7Dzw" frameborder="0"></iframe>

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/j ... len-clinic

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/25/world ... en-babies/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... Spain.html

With the Law for Free Abortion having just been replealed by the current fascist PP Spanish Government (heirs of Franco) and abortion once again illegal it seems we're returning to the past with probably the very same results.

[kiwikeith]

Just for the record ABC Four Corners aired IRELAND'S LOST BABIES reported by the BBC's Martin Sixsmith last night here in Australia.

Good documentary, but what we already know from Kathy & Fintans efforts.

http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/ ... 123123.htm

[Fintan]

Thanks for the heads-up!

Yeah, the issue's been on ice since the Irish Gov.
called a "time out" a few months ago - to figure out
how they will respond to the demands for a broad
public inquiry - with a criminal investigation arm.

Their announcement is expected within weeks.

If (as expected) it falls short, the sh*t WILL hit the proverbial.

[Fintan]

ACTIVISTS WIN $25 MILLION INQUIRY
INTO FORCED ADOPTIONS AND CRUEL
NEGLECT OF IRISH UNWED MOTHERS

by Kathy McMahon and Fintan Dunne - 10 January 2014.

Well folks, there was a pause over Xmas, but yesterday we won
a great victory in the battle to expose the truth of coerced removal
of infants from unwed mothers, savage neglect and forced adoptions.

After relentless activism - especially our extra effort in the last five months,
the government under constant pressure has granted over $25 Million
to fund a three year investigation by a senior judge.

The Commission of Inquiry will be able to compel witnesses and has
the power to seize all paperwork from adoption agencies and religious
institutions involved in the trade in infants. It will examine cases from
the inception of the state in the 1920's - up to as recent as 1998.

The Inquiry will take oral and written testimony and produce reports in
eighteen months and then again in three years. The work could start as
early as this January.

Although the Inquiry is not a criminal probe, prosecutions may follow
from information uncovered by the Inquiry.

Recommendations on a scheme of restitution and compensation for
mothers whose civil rights were violated could come in eighteen months
from the first interim report of the Commission.

THE INQUIRY PHASE

On this campaign in Ireland and in Brussels at the EU, we worked closely
with the very experienced activists of the long-running Adoption Rights
Alliance. Keeping out of the limelight we got a reputation, we feel, for
putting professionalism before political grandstanding.

The next goal is to begin to put compelling argument and evidence
before this Commission of Inquiry and to continue the campaign for
both a proper formal restitution and compensation program, and an
adequately-resourced police investigations unit.

Thanks to all who supported or helped us and apologies
for our absence from much of life for the last few months lol.

Have a great 2015! - Fintan & Kathy

[Fintan]

The key weaknesses in what was announced are the lack of a
formal compensation program or a police investigations unit.

So when this comes before parliament in the week after next, we
will be lobbying to achieve some movement on those two issues
before we can be happy we've attained a just outcome.

Thus --despite the gains achieved- we formally
rejected the Government plans yesterday:

[Southpark Fan]

Good to see a little light shed on the mechanisms of culture destruction. Here in Canada we have a Residential School scandal - a highly motivated, organised and successful campaign to eradicate the national Native culture from Canada. Implemented by gov with the cooperation of church based groups.

The flashlight was shone on these scum as well - far too long after the real time crime was committed for proper justice, but at least the countries population heard it - if they chose to listen.

<iframe id="ytplayer" type="text/html" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xAGTYiI0ijA" frameborder="0"></iframe>

Tha sistas are in so check the front line
Seems I spent the '80s in the Haiti state of mind
Cast me into classes for electro shock
Straight incarcerated, the curriculum's a cell block
I'm swimmin' in half truths and it makes me wanna spit
Instructor come separate the healthy from tha sick
Ya weigh me on a scale, smellin' burnt skin
It's dark now in Dachau and I'm screamin' from within
'Cause I'm cell locked in tha doctrines of tha right
Enslaved by dogma, talk about my birthrights
Yet at every turn I'm runnin' into hell's gates
So I grip tha cannon like Fanon an pass tha shells to my classmates
Aw, power to tha people
'Cause tha bosses right ta live is mine ta die
So I'm goin' out heavy sorta like Mount Tai
Wit tha five centuries of penitentiary so let tha guilty hang
In tha year of tha boomerang

I got no property but yo I'm a piece of it
So let tha guilty hang
I got no property but yo I'm a piece of it
In the year of tha boomerang
I got no property but yo I'm a piece of it
So let tha guilty hang
I got no property but yo I'm a piece of it
In the year of tha boomerang

Yeah!
Now it's upon you!
Now it's upon you!

Tha sistas are in so check the front line
Seems I spent the '80s in the Haiti state of mind
Cast me into classes for electro shock
Straight incarcerated, the curriculum's a cell block
Swimmin' in half truths and it makes me wanna spit
Instructor come separate the healthy from tha sick
Ya weigh me on a scale, I'm smellin' burnt skin
It's dark now in Dachau and I'm screamin' from within
'Cause I'm cell locked in tha doctrines of tha right
Enslaved by dogma, talk about my birthrights
Yet at every turn I'm runnin' into hell's gates
So I grip tha cannon like Fanon an pass tha shells to my classmates
Aw, power to tha people, yeah, yeah
Tha bosses right ta live is mine ta die
I'm goin' out heavy sorta like Mount Tai
Wit tha five centuries of penitentiary so let tha guilty hang
In tha year of tha boomerang

I got no property but yo I'm a piece of it
So let tha guilty hang
I got no property but yo I'm a piece of it
Uh! In the year of tha boomerang
I got no property but yo I'm a piece of it
So let tha guilty hang
I got no property but yo I'm a piece of it
In the year of tha boomerang

Yeah!
Now it's upon you!
Now it's upon you!
You! You! You! You! You! You! You! You!

Yeah!

***
Fifty years ago, in 1961, a young Martinican psychiatrist by the name of Frantz Fanon published The Wretched of the Earth, a political tract that, in the years to follow, would become the handbook of revolutionaries everywhere, from Ché Guevara in South America to Steve Biko in South Africa. At the time of writing the book, Fanon was stationed as a psychiatrist in Algeria, a country that was then in the grip of a protracted and bloody revolution. In 1954 the Algerian people had risen en masse against French colonizers who had ruled them brutally for more than a century. The Algerian War for Independence lasted eight years, ending with the expulsion of the French in 1962. It came to be known as the “War of a Million Martyrs” because of the countless Algerians who died in the struggle.

The popular uprisings that have swept through north Africa and the Middle East in recent months – erupting in Tunisia and spreading to Egypt, Libya and Bahrain among other places – not only recall those heroic struggles for independence that swept through Algeria and the rest of the colonized world in the 1950s and 60s, they also attest to the visionary power of Fanon’s Wretched of the Earth. At the time of its publication the book was marketed as “[a] negro psychoanalyst’s study of colonialism and racism in the world today,” but in fact Fanon’s work was much more than that. While Fanon devoted part of the book to theorizing the corrosive effects of colonial racism and the most effective ways by which the colonized could combat their oppressors, much of it in fact served as a kind of cautionary tract, warning against the corruption of the regimes that – under the mantles of "nationalism," "Pan-Africanism" and "Pan-Arabism," – would come to power after independence.

One object of Fanon’s scathing critique was the post-independence dictator-leader bloated with his own power. Fanon repeatedly emphasized what he called the “detrimental role of the leader,” warning that “in certain regions the party is organized like a gang whose toughest member takes over leadership.” In his characteristically wry style, he cautioned against the excesses of power: “Leader comes from the English verb ‘to lead,’ meaning ‘to drive’ in French. The driver of people no longer exists today. People are no longer a herd and do not need to be driven. If the leader drives me I want him to know that at the same time I am driving him.” Certainly, the egotistical, delusional, and murderous performances of dictators from Hosni Mubarak to Muammar Gaddafi in recent months lend credence to Fanon’s early warning that “the nation should not be run by a big boss.”

Fanon also foresaw the role that western powers would play in propping up corrupt regimes, predicting that these powers would continue to safeguard their interests in the Third World by cultivating clientelistic relationships with local proxies. In doing so he thought that they would curtail the growth of genuine democracy in those regions, perpetuating the subjugation of the people who lived there. Here he was right again. It is no coincidence that, with the exception of Gaddafi (who is also the only dictator against whom the west has intervened thus far), the regimes that have been the target of protests in recent months have invariably been close allies of western powers, principally America.

Fanon was ultimately most insightful in recognizing the critical role that the common people can play in overcoming the conditions of their oppression. He wrote, “[t]he more the people understand, the more vigilant they become, the more they realize in fact that everything depends on them and that their salvation lies in their solidarity." Fanon’s faith in the masses, in their capacity to fight their own oppression, was derived from his experience in Algeria, where he had witnessed first-hand the way in which ordinary people mobilized to fight the French. His descriptions of the Algerian masses then uncannily foreshadow the images of the Tunisian, the Egyptian, the Libyan masses now: "The Algerian people, that starved…mass of men and women….have resisted the tanks and the planes, the napalm and the psychological warfare, but above all, the corruption and the brainwashing, the traitors and the ‘national’ armies." A black Martinican educated in France who, by the end of his life, identified as Algerian (he often refers to himself as an Algerian in The Wretched of the Earth), Fanon was the epitome of the “cosmopolitan intellectual” long before the term came into vogue. But Fanon not only theorized revolution, he lived it. He threw in his lot with the people he wrote about, becoming a revolutionary and joining the Front de Libération Nationale (FLN), the Algerian resistance movement that spearheaded the revolt against the French. Sadly, when the leaders of the FLN took over power after independence in 1962 they did not heed Fanon’s prescient warnings in The Wretched of the Earth, and the new nation was plunged into turmoil and civil war. Today Algeria is one of the many countries across north Africa where the people are again on the brink of revolting.

Fanon did not live to see the Algerians liberated from the French and died the same year that The Wretched of the Earth was published, in 1961, at the age of 36. Though his life was short, his voice was vast. Fifty years on, he continues to be a spokesman for today’s wretched of the earth.

[Fintan]

Still not back on BFN.. sigh... lol.

but.....

FINAL DAY!

Full on lobbying in the last few days.

The legislation goes thru today!

So, one last push, as they say.

more l8rs

[Neil]

Hi Kathy and Fintan,

Great job pushing on this issue! Ye are doing Trojan work!

Just tuned into proceedings live here-

http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/wat ... ileireann/

Looks like I did just in time...

2.39 p.m.

Motion re Draft Order for the Commission of the Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes (to conclude at 5.30pm if not previously concluded)
(Department of Children and Youth Affairs)

Source- http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?Do ... &&CatID=60

Would be great if ye could give us an audio update, whenever ye have recovered from all the hard work?

All the best,

Neil.