Irish couple are left in tears on Long Lost Family after being reunited with their adult son

An Irish couple were reunited with their son on tonight’s Long Lost Family, after he was given to a Spanish family as a baby by a Catholic adoption agency – despite reassurances he would be returned once his young parents were more stable.

Phyllis and Kevin Haran, from County Clare, have spent more than forty years searching for their first-born child Sean and became emotional when finally seeing him again on the ITV programme. 

The couple fell in love as teenagers in Ireland in the 1970s but Phyllis soon became pregnant and, aware of the scandal this would cause, the pair fled their Catholic community and travelled to England.

But in London, their landlady discovered they were keeping a baby in their flat and gave them less than 24 hours to get out – so, homeless, jobless and desperate to put their son’s interests first, they agreed through an agency to place him in the care of a family, with the possibility of adoption if they couldn’t find their feet. 

However, the couple said the Catholic adoption agency said they could get their son back once they were financially stable – and two months later, with secure jobs and a flat, they went to get their child.

Sadly, the agency felt the baby should stay with the Spanish parents, who were married and more financially stable, and after it was taken to the courts, a judge agreed.

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Phyllis and Kevin Haran, from County Clare, have spent more than forty years searching for their first-born child and became emotional when finally seeing him again on Long Lost Family (pictured)

In emotional scenes, married couple Phyllis and Kevin hug their son, who is now called Ruben

In emotional scenes, married couple Phyllis and Kevin hug their son, who is now called Ruben

‘We loved him and we didn’t want him adopted, we never wanted him adopted. He’s lost to us and we want him back,’ said Kevin, who runs a guest house with wife Phyllis.

Speaking about their scheme to run away, Phyllis said: ‘We didn’t tell our parents, just packed a bag and just went… brave. We were looking forward to it. I was excited, we were young, you think you can do anything.’

The pair rented a room together and had casual work. Six months later, their little boy, Sean was born.

‘He was gorgeous, 7lb 2, a fine healthy baby,’ said Phyllis. ‘We were young, we were happy and excited, he was a beautiful little baby,’ added Kevin.

But after just five-weeks, their bubble of happiness soon came crashing down when their landlady caught them living together out of wedlock and demanded they leave her flat within 24 hours.

The couple (pictured with their son) fell in love as teenagers in Ireland in the 1970s but Phyllis soon became pregnant, and aware of the scandal this would cause, the pair fled their Catholic community and travelled to England

The couple pictured together recently

The couple (pictured left, with their son, and right, recently) fell in love as teenagers in Ireland in the 1970s but Phyllis soon became pregnant, and aware of the scandal this would cause, the pair fled their Catholic community and travelled to England

The couple contacted an agency who said they would give their son to a Spanish family, with the possibility of adoption if they couldn’t find their feet. 

‘It was very difficult having to give him up but I thought we’d get him back again,’ said Phyllis, who later had three other children with Kevin.  

However, two months later, with secure jobs and a flat, they went to get their child and were told that the agency felt the baby should stay with the Spanish parents, who were married and more financially stable.

The distraught couple had to go through the courts to try and get their son back.

‘We wanted our child back, but the judge looked at us and says “you’re young, you come from big families in Ireland, I’m sure you’re going to have plenty more children yourselves”,’ recalled Kevin.

‘”The people who have Sean, they’re in the position to look after a child where you are not and you’re doing them a good deed so I order that the adoption be finalised”.’

But in London, their landlady discovered they were keeping a baby in their flat and gave them less than 24 hours to get out. Pictured, the couple in the 1970s

But in London, their landlady discovered they were keeping a baby in their flat and gave them less than 24 hours to get out. Pictured, the couple in the 1970s

His wife added: ‘I couldn’t believe it. I felt betrayed, devastated. It’s horrible,’ while Kevin said: ‘I said “we’ll find him wherever you put him and we’ll keep searching and we will take him back.”‘

The couple married and had more children before returning to Ireland, but sadly, in 2008, they lost their other son Ryan, who was killed in a traffic accident, aged 24.

Speaking about Sean, Kevin said: ‘We still need to find him, and find that he’s happy and that love will always be there, even if we never meet him it will always be there for him.’

Long Lost Family discovered that Sean’s name had been changed to Ruben Molinero and he was now living in a small mountain town west of Madrid as a member of Spain’s elite mountain rescue team.

He had moved to Spain when he was four years old with his adoptive parents and now lives with his wife and 11-year-old son.

Speaking to co-presenter Nicky Campbell after being discovered, Ruben said: ‘It was a big surprise. I didn’t expect them to look for me.

‘When I was young, my feeling was that they had abandoned me so I didn’t want to look back, I just wanted to look forward.

Homeless, jobless and desperate to put their son's interests first, they agreed through an agency to place him in the care of a family, with the possibility of adoption if they couldn't find their feet. Pictured, Ruben with his wife Raquel

Homeless, jobless and desperate to put their son’s interests first, they agreed through an agency to place him in the care of a family, with the possibility of adoption if they couldn’t find their feet. Pictured, Ruben with his wife Raquel

In emotional scenes, the three were reunited in Ireland and insisted they would be keeping in touch and getting to know each other (pictured)

In emotional scenes, the three were reunited in Ireland and insisted they would be keeping in touch and getting to know each other (pictured)

‘I know that my birth parents were teenagers. It seems they didn’t have any money and had to give me up for adoption.’

After being told the situation, and how he was always wanted, an emotional Ruben added: ‘I feel it’s a shame. They just had difficulties and they weren’t allowed to raise me. That makes me sad. I want to meet them and discover my roots and see what happens.’

In emotional scenes, the three were reunited in Ireland and insisted they would be keeping in touch and getting to know each other.

‘You were never abandoned, we fought for you, we went to court for you, but the judge thought we had nothing to offer you,’ explained Kevin to his son.

‘It makes me sad because things could’ve been different’, said Ruben. ‘But we have to go forward and I want to get to know you and I want you to get to know me. I want to find out more about where I come from.’

He added: ‘Today is a special day. A new story starts and I hope it’ll be a good one.’

Kevin continued: ‘It seems like we’ve known him forever. He’s never been away. Let’s hope he likes us as much as we like him.’

Long Lost Family Series 10 continues on Monday January 25, 9pm