Adoptee Rights and Access to Records in Northern Ireland

About this episode

The episode discusses the challenges adoptees face in accessing their records in Northern Ireland amidst ongoing law reform.

Dr Alice Diver hosts LawPod with fellow adult adoptees Anita, Richard/Michael, and Michelle to discuss adoptee rights amid Northern Ireland law reform and truth recovery processes. They describe meeting through an Adopt NI peer support group and how reports on institutional abuse prompted them to seek their own histories. The conversation focuses on barriers to accessing adoption, institutional, court, trust, and medical records despite Northern Ireland being an open records jurisdiction, including redactions, missing or destroyed files, inconsistent disclosure, and records held by churches and other gatekeepers. They emphasise the emotional harm, distrust, and "gaps" adoptees face; the need for accountable systems and legislation that ensure complete, reliable access; and the reality that receiving records is only the start, with reunions and identity integration continuing afterwards. They highlight peer support and mentoring through Adopt NI and invite adoptees to seek help. Further Information Alliance for the Study of Adoption & Culture 2026 Conference — Alliance for the Study of Adoption & Culture AdoptNI Adoption UK Charity Genetic Stigma in Law and Literature…

People in this episode

Guests: Anita, Richard/Michael, Michelle

Topics covered

• adoptee rights
• Northern Ireland law
• access to records
• institutional abuse
• peer support

Keywords

• adoption
• truth recovery
• emotional harm
• accountable systems

Mentioned in this episode

Products: LawPod, Adopt NI

Places: Northern Ireland

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