State urged to open 60,000 adoption files after success of Philomena

A campaign aimed at shaming the Irish State into opening an estimated 60,000 adoption files is gathering pace on the back of Oscar-nominated film Philomena.

The film, starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan, recounts the true story of Philomena Lee’s search for the son she was forced to put up for adoption through the Seán Ross Abbey mother and baby home in 1952 when she was aged 19.

Adopted people have no right to their adoption records, birth certificate, or medical records.