Judged: A Mother's Love - 1. Tip of the Iceberg

Katie Bridget Murphy meets actor Patrick FitzSymons, whose life takes a dramatic turn when he discovers he was adopted and that his birth was illegally registered. From fake pregnancies to falsified documents, Patrick’s story reveals the lengths some went to in a society steeped in shame. Then, Patrick realises his case is not unique. It could be just the tip of the iceberg.

Writer and Producer: Katie Bridget Murphy
Senior Producer: Ophelia Byrne
Executive Producer: Elizabeth Clark
Sound Engineers: John Benson and Davy Neill
Sound Design: Bill Maul
Artwork: Tom Cunningham
Assistant Commissioner: Prabhjit Bains
Commissioning Editor: Khaliq Meer

Judged: A Mother’s Love is a BBC Audio Northern Ireland production with BBC Sounds Audio Lab.

Published on Tuesday, 10th February 2026.

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