All Our Children

Extended description: A '7 Days' programme looking at the treatment of unmarried mothers in Ireland. Using audio interviews women who were not married and found themselves pregnant talk of their experiences. Dramatic sequences are used to show the relationship of a young couple when the woman becomes pregnant. Intercut throughout the programme is an interview with Mark Delaney who outlines the situation in Sweden for children born outside of a marriage. FILM SHOWS: A young woman (played by Fidelma Cullen) walking along a country road where she meets her boyfriend (played by Niall Buggy). SEQUENCE OF SHOTS showing the young couple running hand in hand down a bank to a bridge over a stream. The couple stand on the bridge. Under these shots the voice of a woman says, "Well I was 22 when I became pregnant and I had been going out with the father of the child for nearly two years and we had been engaged about a year. It was immediately that I became pregnant that he fell out of love with me. I told him that I wanted to keep the child. He was obviously livid and said how stupid and I couldn't possibly manage. We were at a party at the time and we argued right through that evening." SEQUENCE OF SHOTS showing the young couple running hand in hand along the bank of a stream. They stop at large tree and kiss. Under this sequence of shots the voice of a second woman says, "When she first told me that she was pregnant I didn't know what to do I was frightened and shocked. She is more bewildered and terrified. I thought she is still my daughter and I thought if her parents and her family didn't how could anybody expect other people to be tolerant?" SEQUENCE OF SHOTS showing young woman crossing busy street in Dublin. Shots of pedestrians on busy city street. Under these shots the voice of the first unidentifed woman says, "My father wrote me a terribly cold detached letter saying that he never wanted to see me again but if it was a matter of life or health and I needed money he would send me money. But he signed himself for the last time 'Daddy'. My mother was awfully shocked and how could this have happened to a daughter of hers. What mistake had she made in my upbringing and education and all the rest." IV Mark Delaney, "They say in Sweden there are no illegitimate children. There are only illegitimate parents. Another interesting thing they say is that no democratic government can put chastity belts on unmarried people. But a government can try to prevent illegitima