‘An incredible Read’ Jim McVeigh’s 'Stolen Faith' reviewed

As the Sinn Féin spokesperson on children, disability, equality and integration and youth, I have had a lot of dealings with issues around the mother and baby institutions. I have also had the honour and privilege of many survivors telling me their stories. I do want to acknowledge their bravery in doing this. I know this is not easy to do and I can honestly say I remember each story individually.

I call them institutions as that is exactly what they were, they were not homes but prisons where so many women and girls were sent when they found themselves pregnant. It is important to note that in a number of incidents women and girls were sent as a result of becoming pregnant because of rape and incest. Instead of been supported and ensuring that the perpetrators of these crimes were brought to justice, women and girls were blamed for this and considered ‘sinners’ that had to repent.

So many stories that women have shared with me over the last number of years resonate in the story of Rose, the key character in Jim McVeigh’s 'Stolen Faith'. The story of how Rose was left to give birth with no medical assistance was particularly poignant, as so many women lost their lives or were left with permanent health issues as a result of this practice.

To date many women who were sent to these institutions are still looking for the babies that were ripped away from them. Often women were put under serious pressure to sign adoption forms, often they did not fully understand what exactly they were signing regarding adoption papers.

There are many more stories of women whose babies disappeared from the nursery, they never knew exactly what happened to them.

So many children who were born into the institutions, are still trying to access their records and information. I have thought that so many of us myself included take knowing our identity for granted. Particularly when it comes to documents such as our birth certs.

I remember several stories of people who actually had their own birthdays wrong when they finally did access a birth cert.

It is sometimes hard to find words that describe how unfair and unjust this system is and that in 2022 we still are treating people as second-class citizens when it comes to knowing your basic information.

The story of 'Stolen Faith' really grasps this feeling of wanting to know one’s identity and story and Jim McVeigh brings it to life in an incredible read.

'Stolen Faith' is a powerful novel that stretches over a number of generations which brings us from Belfast to the infamous institution in Tuam, Co Galway and ultimately to the shores of Boston in the USA.

A tale of fiction but one that touches on the very dark and distressing history which treated women and children so appalling in Ireland.

It spans from the Second World War right up to the present day. It clearly illustrates how the role of mother and baby institutions and the practice of forced and often illegal adoptions continues to impact present generations.

The stories of the various characters and the description of their paths through life detail both perfectly and heartbreakingly how secrets, lies and a misogynistic culture that bowed to the institution of the Church led to the destruction of so many individuals and families.

It also speaks to the power of love and family and how that love drives the quest for justice to this day for so many survivors and their families.

A powerful read that invokes such a range of emotions. A fitting testament to all those who suffered at the hands of the State and Church in their horrific institutions.

Kathleen Funchion is a Sinn Féin TD for Carlow and Kilkenny and Sinn Féin’s Spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs.

Stolen Faith is published by O’Brien books, priced €14.99