Long Lost Family unearths another twist about Belfast foundling, David McBride
and live on Freeview channel 276
In this special episode of Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace, Davina McCall and Nicky Campbell re-introduces viewers to David, who in 1962 was wrapped in a shawl, placed in a tartan bag and left in the front seat of a car on the outskirts of Belfast.
In 2019, David shared his thoughts on his start to life, saying: “I’m sad that it happened. I’m sad for myself… but I’m also sad for my mother because it must have been heart-breaking for her.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdMeanwhile, Helen Ward was left six years after David on the other side of the Irish border, in Dundalk, in a telephone box – and also in a tartan bag.
Despite the similarities in their stories, it seemed no one had connected the two foundlings, until the Long Lost Family search team used DNA to establish that they were full brother and sister.
Nicky and Davina broke the news to Helen and David, who met for the first time next to the border that had separated them while they were growing up.
Helen described it as a miracle, yet the story was about take another twist.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAs Davina says: “We thought the case of David and Helen was solved, but incredibly, new information keeps coming to light that we could never have imagined.”
The update reveals that the team were later able to identify their birth parents, who are both sadly deceased.
It emerged that David and Helen were born out of a forbidden relationship that spanned decades, and they also have multiple half-siblings on their birth father’s side.
Helen reflects on her mother’s life, saying: “It must have taken a huge amount of thought to have to give us up for the man she loved, but that was perhaps her only way.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdBut when the cameras catch up with her and David for this programme, she also mentions that she’s heard rumours of another Irish foundling discovered in the 1960s, and wonders whether there could be a connection.
To find out more, the team meet journalist Paul Murphy, who lived in Drogheda in the 1960s.
When he was 21, he found a baby in a telephone box, left in a holdall bag with a warm bottle of milk.
The story made headline news, and Paul says: “The baby’s image has never left me.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe similarities to Helen’s story in particular are striking – could their parents have been forced to leave another infant?
A message from the Editor:
Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.
In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper whenever you are able to do so.
Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdWith the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper when you can safely.
You can also enjoy unlimited access to the best news from across Northern Ireland and the UK by subscribing to newsletter.co.uk
With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.
Thank you