Number 51

In this deeply moving testimonial, author Marie Therese Rogers, whose memoir The Sins of the Mother chronicles her life story, reflects on a childhood shaped by adoption, institutional care, secrecy, and a lifelong search for answers.

Born in the early 1950s to an unmarried mother in County Donegal, Marie Therese was separated from her family shortly after birth. After a brief placement with an adoptive family, she was returned to institutional care and spent most of her childhood in Nazareth House, Belfast, where she became known not by her name, but by a number: 51.

Marie Therese describes growing up in a world of strict discipline, silence, and emotional deprivation. She recalls the daily routines, the lack of affection, limited education, and the psychological impact of never knowing who she was or where she came from. Her testimony offers a powerful personal insight into the experience of many children raised in religious institutions across Ireland during the twentieth century.

As an adult, Marie Therese embarked on a decades-long journey to uncover the truth about her origins. Through persistent requests for records, conversations with former staff, and her own investigative efforts, she gradually pieced together fragments of her family history. Along the way, she discovered unknown siblings, met members of her birth family, and uncovered evidence that challenged what she had previously been told about her adoption.

Her story speaks directly to many of the themes explored in our episodes on Adoptee Rights and Access to Records, including:

• The importance of access to birth and adoption records.
• The lifelong impact of institutionalisation and family separation.
• The barriers adoptees often face when seeking information about their origins.
• The emotional consequences of secrecy and withheld records.
• The need for recognition, accountability, and support for those affected by historical adoption practices.

Despite repeated setbacks, Marie Therese’s determination to uncover her past ultimately led her to write The Sins of the Mother, ensuring that her experiences—and those of many others—would not be forgotten.

Related LawPod Episodes

• Adoptee Rights and Access to Records in Northern Ireland
  https://lawpod.org/podcast/adoptee-rights-and-access-to-records-in-northern-ireland/
• Adoptee Rights and Access to Records – Part II
  https://lawpod.org/podcast/adoptee-rights-and-access-to-records-part-ii/

Further Reading

Marie Therese Rogers Moloney, The Sins of the Mother
A memoir detailing Marie Therese’s experiences of adoption, institutional care, and her search for identity and belonging.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sins-Mother-Marie-Therese-Rogers-Moloney/dp/1780730659

Content Note

This episode contains personal accounts relating to adoption, family separation, institutional care, emotional and physical abuse, and trauma. Some listeners may find the content distressing. Support is available through adoption and counselling services for anyone affected by the themes discussed.