IF Jennifer Bell’s parents had met first, she might never have been born.

KAREN GRATTAN has spent 17 years searching for her natural mother. Her search has been hampered by a paper trail containing false information and a history of non-cooperation from State and private agencies.

A decision to let victims of child abuse access their Government files through children’s charity Barnardo’s was today defended by a minister.

The church is being asked to apologise to thousands of pregnant women who were forcibly housed in Magdalene laundries in various parts of Ireland following the premier of a new film, Magdalene Sisters.

The Government is under pressure to give adopted people a stronger voice by giving them a seat on the proposed new adoption authority.