Northern Ireland

Siblings abandoned as babies are reunited after more than 50 years

Helen Ward, John and David McBride meet for the first time. Picture by ITV
Helen Ward, John and David McBride, who were all abandoned as babies, after meeting or the first time as adults. PICTURE: ITV

A BROTHER and sister abandoned as babies in Belfast and Dundalk and reunited after more than 50 years have discovered they have another sibling, also left in mysterious circumstances.

David McBride and Helen Ward were brought together last year by the ITV show Long Lost Families.

In 1962, David was discovered in a red tartan duffel bag in the driveway of a house in Belfast by Claire Pullen, the wife of a Belfast GP. Helen was found in a phone box in Dundalk - again in a red tartan duffel bag - six years later and efforts to trace both their parents proved ­unsuccessful at the time.

However, it has now emerged that a third baby, left in a phonebox in Drogheda in 1965, is their brother.

Named only as John, he was found by a man called Paul Murphy as he made his way home from a drama group rehearsal.

Mr Murphy, who reconnected with John in 2013, was contacted by the Irish Independent after speculation was raised recently by a Drogheda garda who had read David and Helen’s story.

The garda believed there was a link to the case of an abandoned baby in Drogheda that his late father had worked on.

The Irish Independent today reported that at Helen and David’s request, Paul directed John to their story, asking him if he would consider talking to them about a possible connection.

It has also emerged that John’s daughter Donna had watched the ITV programme about David and Helen and noticed striking physical resemblances to her father.

After making contact with the Long Lost Family team, Donna and her father agreed to do DNA tests, which proved that the three foundlings are full siblings.

Their emotional reunion is due to be broadcast in ITV’s Long Lost Family: What Happened Next next Tuesday.

David said: "I couldn’t even imagine having a full sibling, but to have two full siblings… unbelievable".

"It’s just something that in your wildest dreams, you couldn’t make the story up."

David McBride and Helen Ward were brought together by the ITV show Long Lost Families, presented by Davina McCall and Nicky Campbell
David McBride and Helen Ward were brought together by the ITV show Long Lost Families, presented by Davina McCall and Nicky Campbell David McBride and Helen Ward were brought together by the ITV show Long Lost Families, presented by Davina McCall and Nicky Campbell