Latest news with #PhilomenaLee
CBC
11-06-2025
- General
- CBC
Survivors of Ireland's notorious homes for unwed mothers could lose benefits in the U.K.
Jane Libberton was shocked to learn that her elderly mother could lose her benefits if she finally receives compensation for having her toddler taken away from her seven decades ago. Libberton is the daughter of Philomena Lee, a 92-year-old Irish woman whose story of being forcibly separated from her son brought global attention to Ireland's dark history of mother and baby homes: Catholic institutions for unmarried mothers and their children. Ireland is now offering financial compensation to the survivors of those homes, which are notorious for their long history of abuse, neglect, unpaid labour and forced adoptions. But for the thousands of survivors who now reside in the United Kingdom — Lee included — accepting that money means they could lose out on much needed government benefits. "It kind of nullifies the point of the compensation," U.K. Labour MP Liam Conlon told As It Happens host Nil Köksal. Conlon has introduced a bill to prevent that from happening, called Philomena's Law. Libberton joined him on CBC Radio to support the proposed legislation named after her mother. "I think it is a great thing that he's trying to do for the Irish people here in this country," she said. What happened to Philomena Lee and other survivors? Between 1922 and 1998, tens of thousands of unmarried Irish mothers and pregnant women and girls were placed in the mostly nun-run institutions, often against their will. In 2021, Ireland published its final report from a public inquiry into the homes. It contained accounts from roughly 56,000 women and 57,000 children who were placed or born in the institutions, detailing horrific accounts of abuse, neglect, child deaths, forced labour and family separation. Of all the tragic tales to emerge from the scandal, Lee's is one of the best known. It was told in the 2009 book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee by journalist Martin Sixsmith, then adapted into the 2013 film Philomena, starring Judi Dench. Pregnant at 18, Lee was sent to the Sean Ross Abbey in Roscrea, where she was forced to do unpaid labour. It continued until she was 22, when her three-year-old son Anthony was suddenly adopted by a family in the U.S. without her consent. "All I could see was his face peering out the back of the [car] window and that was the last I ever saw him," Lee recounted during a 2014 interview with then- As It Happens host Carol Off. "I have never forgotten that moment in my whole life and I don't suppose I ever will." Why survivors could lose benefits In the U.K., the government runs a system of social benefits for those in need, including pension credits, housing benefits and social care for people who are ill or disabled. Those benefits are means-tested, which means eligibility is contingent on a person's income and savings. So an influx of compensation from the Irish government — anywhere from €5,000 to €125,000 ($7,800 to $195,000) — would impact that formula, potentially putting some benefits out of survivors' reach. "She's getting older and frailer, so she's probably going to have to get carers at some point," Libberton said of her mother. "So the compensation money, she'd have to pay for carers out of that." WATCH | 2021 report finds thousands of infants died in mother and baby homes: 9,000 babies died in Ireland's mother and baby homes 4 years ago Duration 2:05 A disturbing report into Ireland's mother and baby homes, where unwed mothers were sent to give birth and forced to give their babies up for adoption, says along with other indignities, 9,000 babies died in the care of the 18 homes. The Irish Catholic Church, which ran the homes, has apologized and the prime minister is also expected to apologize this week. Conlon's bill would exempt the Irish compensation package from the means-tested benefits formula. And it has broad support. More than 100 MPs from all parties (out of the U.K. lower house's 650 MPs) have signed a letter of support endorsing the bill. "It shows that we're building a consensus," Conlon said. "This shouldn't be about party politics. This should be something that everyone can unite behind." Is the U.K. responsible for an Irish scandal? During a debate on the bill Tuesday, Labour's Andrew Western, the parliamentary under-secretary of state for work and pensions, said the government is already "carefully considering whether to legislate to disregard payment from Ireland's mother and baby institutions payment scheme" — though he could not provide a timeline. Western noted that similar exemptions for means-tested benefits have been carved out before for people who received compensation for, among other things, the U.K.'s tainted blood scandal, the Windrush generation immigrant scandal and the 2021 Grenfell Tower fires. Still, he said, this case could prove more complicated because the compensation comes from outside the country. "What all the examples I have given have in common is that the circumstances that gave rise to that compensation payment either occurred in this country or involved events for which the U.K. government have direct responsibility or liability," Western said. "We must not forget that income-related benefits are paid for through general taxation, so disregarding a compensation payment comes at a cost to the taxpayer." Conlon admits that carving out an exception for foreign money would, indeed, be "unprecedented." "Everything's unprecedented until it happens, and this needs to happen, and I'm going to keep campaigning until it does happen," he said. Libberton, meanwhile, says her mother is proud to support Conlon's efforts.
RTÉ News
10-06-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
UK Govt considering whether to support Philomena's Law
The British Government is considering whether to support legislation, known as 'Philomena's law', which seeks to help UK based survivors of Irish mother-and-baby homes access compensation. Over 100 MPs and Peers have signed an open letter backing the proposed law. The legislation has been named after Philomena Lee, a mother and baby home survivor, whose story about her son being forcibly adopted was chronicled in the Oscar nominated film "Philomena". It's estimated that around 13,000 people living in the UK are mother and baby home survivors, however many risk losing their means-tested benefits if they avail of compensation under the Irish Mother and Baby Institution payments scheme. 'Philomena's Law' was first introduced to the House of Commons by the chair of the UK Labour Party's Irish Society, Liam Conlon MP. He is seeking a 'indefinite capital disregard', which is a legal mechanism that ensures compensation is not counted as savings for the purpose of benefits eligibility. This model was used in previous cases, including for survivors of the 7/7 and Manchester bombings, as well as the Windrush scandal. No timeline on final decision Today, Minister Andrew Western told MPs that Cabinet Secretaries are considering whether to legislate to ensure that survivors means-tested benefits are not impacted. He couldn't give a timeline as to when a decision will be made. "Part of the reason for this is that conversations are ongoing, not just across government but including Foreign and Commonwealth Ministers and officials, directly with the Irish government to talk about how that might work", he explained. The deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, Daisy Cooper, who is the constituency MP of Philomena Lee, called on the Minister to write to members within the next 14 days outlining a timeline for a decision. However, Mr Western said that he would not be in a position to do this. Ahead of today's debate, the first in Westminster, Liam Conlon MP explained that the legislation was also being introduce to raise awareness in relation to the Irish government's mother and baby homes scheme. "Take up is incredibly low in Britain and we want to ensure that every eligible survivor knows about it and feels empowered to apply", he explained. Stars lend support to legislation The actor Steve Coogan, who starred in the film 'Philomena', has expressed his support for the legislation. "Liam is doing fantastic work to raise awareness of this important issue and I'm backing 'Philomena's Law' to help him ensure that all survivors get the compensation they are rightfully due", he said. Irish actor and star of Derry Girls, Siobhán McSweeney, said that she "wholeheartedly" supports 'Philomena's Law', adding that "this legislation is a crucial step towards justice and dignity for those who have suffered in silence for far too long." The open letter has been signed by politicians from a number of parties, including Labour, DUP, UUP, SDLP, SNP, Sinn Féin, Liberal Democrats and Alliance. It states that "This complicated and stressful situation is putting undue pressure on survivors who are currently making applications to the payment scheme, forcing them to revisit their most traumatic experiences as they weigh up the cost of accepting compensation".
RTÉ News
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
More than 100 MPs sign open letter backing Philomena's Law
More than 100 MPs and Peers in Westminster have signed an open letter backing legislation to help UK based survivors of Irish mother-and-baby homes access compensation. It comes ahead of the first Westminster debate on 'Philomena's Law' this afternoon. The legislation has been named after Philomena Lee, a mother and baby home survivor, whose story about her son being forcibly adopted was chronicled in the Oscar nominated film "Philomena". It's estimated that around 13,000 people living in the UK are mother and baby home survivors, however many risk losing their means-tested benefits if they avail of compensation under the Irish Mother and Baby Institution payments scheme. "Philomena's Law" was first introduced to the House of Commons by the chair of the UK Labour Party's Irish Society, Liam Conlon MP. "Our campaign has also been about shining a light on the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme itself. Uptake is incredibly low in Britain and we want to ensure that every eligible survivor knows about it and feels empowered to apply", he explained. The actor Steve Coogan, who starred in the film 'Philomena' has also expressed his support for the legislation. "Liam is doing fantastic work to raise awareness of this important issue and I'm backing 'Philomena's Law' to help him ensure that all survivors get the compensation they are rightfully due", he said. Irish actor and star of Derry Girls Siobhán McSweeney said that she "wholeheartedly" supports Philomena's Law, adding that "this legislation is a crucial step towards justice and dignity for those who have suffered in silence for far too long." The open letter has been signed by politicians from a number of parties, including Labour, DUP, UUP, SDLP, SNP, Sinn Féin, Liberal Democrats and Alliance. It states that: "This complicated and stressful situation is putting undue pressure on survivors who are currently making applications to the payment scheme, forcing them to revisit their most traumatic experiences as they weigh up the cost of accepting compensation."
The Independent
12-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
‘Philomena's Law' tabled to help survivors of mother-and-baby homes
A proposed law to help thousands of mother-and-baby-homes survivors accept compensation without losing access to benefits has been tabled in the UK Parliament. Labour MP Liam Conlon moved 'Philomena's Law', named after survivor and campaigner Philomena Lee, as he warned that many survivors living in Britain have been deterred from making an application to the compensation scheme operated by the Irish government. Mr Conlon said current rules mean any money accepted through the scheme would be considered as savings and could see the survivor 'lose means-tested benefits and financial support for social care'. He added that ministers in Westminster could help up to 13,000 women by amending UK law to remove the risk, in line with similar changes made to help victims of the 7/7 London bombings and payments made under the Windrush compensation scheme. Family members of Ms Lee watched in the House of Commons as Mr Conlon presented the Bill on Wednesday. Oscar-winner Dame Judi Dench portrayed Ms Lee in the 2013 film Philomena, which documented her 50-year search for her forcibly adopted son, Anthony. Mr Conlon's Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme (Report) Bill would require the UK Government to examine the potential merits of making the change. The MP for Beckenham and Penge told the Commons: 'Philomena is one of tens of thousands of women and their infant children who spent time in mother-and-baby homes across Ireland for the perceived sin of becoming pregnant outside of marriage. 'The women were regularly used as unpaid labour and infant mortality was alarmingly high. They experienced harsh conditions, mistreatment and abuse, both physical and psychological. 'In certain homes, women were routinely separated from their children, with some being adopted against the wishes or knowledge of their mothers, as happened to Philomena Lee and her son Anthony. 'As a direct result of the abuse and trauma they experienced, many mother-and-baby-home survivors moved to England. In some cases they came here because they thought that disappearing from their home country was the only way to protect their family's reputations. 'And so for decades, thousands of survivors, including here in Britain, lived in secrecy and shame.' Mr Conlon said the Irish government later apologised and the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme opened to applications last year. He said: 'Ultimately, the scheme aims to acknowledge the suffering and improve the circumstances of former residents of mother-and-baby homes, which is why it's wrong that up to 13,000 survivors living here in Britain today risk losing their benefits if they accept this compensation. 'Under our current rules, any money accepted through this payment scheme would be considered savings and could see them lose means-tested benefits and financial support for social care. 'For some, it is deterring them from making any application at all, it's one of the reasons why only 5% of survivors in Britain have applied so far. 'And for others, having received the compensation offer, they are now having to weigh up whether it's worth accepting the money or if to do so would sink them into a worse financial situation overall.' Mr Conlon said for many survivors the payment scheme had become an 'additional burden' but noted there was a 'relatively simple' solution. He said: 'The introduction of an indefinite capital disregard, which my Bill is proposing, would remove any risk to an applicant's benefits and there is also strong precedent for this with the same arrangements having been applied to similar special compensation schemes in the recent past. 'They include those introduced for the victims of the 7/7 London bombings and payments made under the Windrush compensation scheme.' Mr Conlon asked for his Bill to be considered at second reading on March 28. Laura Harmon, a Labour member of the Irish parliament's upper house, said in a statement: 'I welcome this Bill and 'Philomena's Law' will deliver justice to thousands of mother-and-baby homes survivors living in Britain.' She added: 'No amount of money can rectify the wrongs that were inflicted on survivors but access to this scheme should be uncomplicated for all survivors.'
