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DOZENS OF FAMILIES in Ireland have offered to look after baby Maria, who was found abandoned on the side of a road in Rathcoole earlier this month.
The newborn was found wrapped in a Primark fleece and Marks and Spencer bag at the gate of a field on Steelstown Lane by a couple out driving.
The Child and Family Agency Tusla was granted a care order for baby Maria days after she was found.
A spokeswoman for Tusla confirmed to TheJournal.ie that it has since received dozens of well wishes and generous offers of support for baby Maria from members of the public.
In all cases, Tusla identifies an appropriate placement to suit the individual needs of each child in care.
Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald has previously said the mother has nothing to fear if she comes forward and that her welfare is the main priority.
Gardaí and Tusla are asking anyone with information to contact Clondalkin Garda Station on 01 6667600, or Tusla can be contacted on 01 6206387.
Anyone who may have been on Steelstown Lane between 10am and 3pm on Friday 8 May is also asked to contact Clondalkin Garda Station if they have not already done so.
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Poor little thing. Hopefully she’ll end up with parents who can love her so much and assure her of how much she is wanted so when the day comes that she finds out about her past it’ll be that small bit less traumatic.
Now that is not what it’s about. There are people who are genuinely concerned about this child’s care, families and foster carers who would be only too happy to do it. Hell, I’d offer if I was in a position to. People want to help, to try and fill in some gaps for this little one who has had a truly awful start in life, that’s all. Why would anyone query that? If anything it shows how kind people are. And rightfully no one without the suitable assesment will be allowed to.
Maria no doubt will end up in a loving home but I still worry about the truama her mother went.through and still going through. I hope she comes forward or has someone to talk to.
Poor child is going to grow up knowing she was left to die at the side of the road. Hope that she has a better outcome in life giving the love that she deserves.
Probably best just to tell her she was adopted and leave it at that
Being left at the side of the road was probably the best thing that could have happened to her. Could you imagine the type of skummer birth parents she must have?
Trolly McTroll Troll
I just hope the mother is ok and not being held against her will somewhere as that thought had crossed my mind.
Such a beautiful little thing, you’d have to be in a bad way mentally to abandon that little peach.
They might mean well but absent of common sense. Obviously there is a whole process involved to check suitability of foster homes. It takes a while to get approval and there is already a pre-existing list
And perhaps these families will go through the process and become excellent foster parents for other children in need…
“A scene similar to the one which may have confronted a driver when he pulled in at this gate”
That’s a wee bit crass no? What did it add? I think we’ve all seen gates, lanes and black sacks often enough to be able to imagine it, if that’s what we want to do.
Saw her. Loved her.
Bidding wars over a baby? They might aswell put the baby on eBay, or should I say eBaby?
People offering to take care of a child in need, how terrible!!! What has the world come to!?!
Where in the report does it mention people bidding for the baby Gary?
Gary, you might want to look away now, but apparently a Lesbian couple have offered to adopt her.
Lesbians Gary.
LESBIANS.
Where is Lasair and Joe’s opinion on this? I’m waiting holding my breath for their thoroughly reasonable and logical insight.
Stay classy there Gary, maybe you could sell the morsel of empathy you have left to the highest bidder
What the F is wrong with you ?!
Hopefully not gay parents! :)
Any “parents” would be better than what she was born to
Hopefully the families who aren’t seen as the most suitable placement for Maria will foster other children in the system
have your say