Dublin South West TD, Seán Crowe, has said that another scandal involving religious orders is deeply disturbing but part of a pattern of widespread neglect, cruelty, abuse, and criminality that needs to be uncovered and face the full rigour of the law.

The Sinn Féin TD said that the latest information emerging confirms that the St. Patrick’s Guild adoption society run by the Sisters of Charity engaged in what appears to be widespread falsification of registered births and it is another sickening chapter in a whole series of wrongs carried out against vulnerable women and children.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“Tusla has identified clear evidence of incorrect registrations which took place between 1946 and 1969.  In many of the cases that have been identified the adoptees may be totally unaware of the circumstances of their birth and who their birth mother was.

“This is another scandal involving religious orders in Ireland. It is deeply disturbing and part of a pattern of neglect, abuse, and criminality that needs full disclosure.

“We know from a handful of courageous journalists and individuals that Ministers, politicians, and government agencies clearly in the know, stayed dumb for decades. Their stony silence facilitated these scandals and crimes. The deafening silence facilitated the cover-ups and in turn perpetuated the hurt to so many our citizens.

“The latest information uncovered confirms that the St. Patrick’s Guild adoption society, which was run by the Sisters of Charity, engaged in what appears to be widespread falsification of registered births.

“What we are now witnessing is another sickening chapter in a whole series of wrongs carried out against vulnerable women and children in Ireland. They were treated like a commodity to be used discarded or sold on, no longer needed when they were deemed to be of no use.

“There is a litany of stories from people who were adopted from St. Patrick’s Guild saying that they faced a brick wall of bureaucracy and misdirection when trying to access even the most basic of information from this enterprise.

“I want to welcome the belated confirmation that those affected will be contacted and notified in a sensitive manner and in line with good social work practice.

“Every resource needs to be made available to ensure that we get the full truth and disclosure. We also need to ensure that the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes which has received the relevant files from Tulsa has enough resources to complete its work.

“I also want to welcome the news that Tusla has forwarded on this information to An Garda Síochána.”

ENDS