Boy adopted by Irishman left in legal limbo

BaZmO*

I haven't seen this story anywhere here on Boards so sorry if it's been covered before, but this truly is a shocking story!

Boy adopted by Irishman left in legal limbo
By Ann McElhinney
14 April 2005

AT the Immanuel orphanage where he was left with some clothes and a small box of toys, three-year-old Tristan Dowes is known as “the Irish boy”.

Staff at the institution in Bogor, just outside Jakarta, say he is quite intelligent but has been quiet and withdrawn since his Irish adoptive father, Joe, returned him there.

Tristan was just two-months-old when he was adopted by the Dowes family, who were living in Jakarta.

Two years later, when he was left at the orphanage, he spoke and understood only English.

Now the Irish Adoption Board has asked the Department of Foreign Affairs to investigate whether the adoption of the Indonesian boy was illegal.

Because it was accepted by the Irish Adoption Board, Tristan was granted Irish citizenship and a passport and is living in a legal limbo in Indonesia.

Mr Dowse, an accountant now living in Azerbaijan, has denied the adoption was improper. He said they left Tristan behind because the adoption “wasn’t working out”, believing it was in the child’s best interests.

“Over time we came to a painful realisation that the adoption wasn’t working out, an extremely difficult and painful realisation to make. It wasn’t something that we felt in Tristan’s best interests to remain with us.”

His wife, Lala, became pregnant and they decided to place Tristan in the orphanage and leave Indonesia. The Dowes have one other daughter, Tata.

Tristan has been visited by Irish embassy officials based in Singapore, who say they are trying to sort out the bureaucratic mess.

Irish Ambassador in Singapore Hugh Swift said the Government is very concerned about the case.

“The Irish Government has been busy with this case since we became aware of it about a year ago.The child’s welfare is our principal consideration,” he said.

The Indonesian authorities said their investigations have found the adoption by Mr Dowse and his Azerbaijani-born wife was illegal.

Dr Makmur Sunusi, of the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs, says Tristan is an Irish citizen living illegally in the country.

“We can do nothing,” he said.

“Tristan is stateless. He should be deported because he is here without a visa.”

Dr Sunusi said Joe and Lala did not follow procedures and had not received the proper authorisation.

Irish Adoption Board registrar Kieran Gildea said: “We have asked the Department of Foreign Affairs to investigate the adoption. If the Indonesian ministry say it is illegal they need to tell us how. Then we will have to see what happens.”


Source: Examiner.ie
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B.

flogen

pretty amazing stuff, the family should be ashamed. I would say I didn't think people could be so cruel, but that would be a lie

The Muppet

It's a dreadful situation. THe latest reports suggest that the couple may be about return to Jakarta and take the child out of the orphanage. IMO they should not be allowed do so. Anyone that treats a child like a puppy is not fit to be a parent IMO. I wonder what part the outcry over this story that broke over a week is influencing their decision making.