A major new scandal has erupted in relation to children adopted under the aegis of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland.

In a total of 126 cases, individuals were incorrectly – and illegally – registered as the biological children of men and women who were not their biological parents. This means that a significant number of people who are aged between 49 and 72 may have no idea that they were adopted – or who their original father and mother might have been.

Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone has today stated that efforts are being made to contact the 126 people involved, but according to reports, the true numbers of this scandal are unknown. Opposition parties have called for an investigation, on the basis that this may be the only way that the true number of victims can be established.

Incorrect registrations occur where a child is placed with a couple or individual who are not the biological parents, but the birth is registered as if the child had been born to that couple or individual.

As a result there may be people who believe that their adoptive parents are actually their biological parents.

Ms Zappone spoke today about this ongoing situation: “We have known about the practice of incorrect registrations for many years, but it has been extremely difficult to identify and prove in individual cases, because of the deliberate failure of those involved to keep records. However, Tusla (the Child and Family Agency) has found clear evidence in the case of some records previously held by St Patrick’s Guild.”

The Minister explained that following an examination of approximately 13,500 records from St Patrick’s Guild, Tusla were able to identify a specific number of incorrect registrations because, as they put it, there was a marker specifying ‘adopted from birth’ on the record.

Following this, Tusla cross-checked the records with those of the Adoption Authority of Ireland and the General Register Office (GRO), and identified 126 incorrect registrations.

Commenting on the revelations, Hot Press editor Niall Stokes said: "This is extraordinary, coming in the week after the 8th Amendment was removed from the Constitution of Ireland in a referendum. One of the mantras from the ‘No’ side during the referendum debate was that there weren’t enough children for adoption. Yet it was essentially the same religious interests who treated children given up – for whatever reason – for adoption in such an appalling way.

“You can see that Minister Zappone is being careful in what she says. But it is clear that information was withheld from the authorities. And that there is likely to have been a criminal aspect to the actions taken. Whether people should be prosecuted or not, at this late stage, is a different issue. But certainly, the people whose records were misrepresented, and who were in effect lied to, and abused, have to be dealt with fairly, and offered some form of compensation.

“Where the funds might come from then arises. With St. Patrick’s Guild – which was run by nuns – closed, who will foot the bill? We will see. But that the individuals affected deserve compensation is irrefutable.

“All of which only reinforces the very strong feeling that the greater the extent to which the State can put a distance between itself and the Catholic Church, in all matters to do with children, the better. It thus underlines the necessity to press on with the drive to wrest control of the schools from religious orders."

Tusla has developed a plan for making contact with people and supporting them as they learn this highly sensitive information..