Tycoon backs grandparents fighting gay adoption bid
Tycoon backs grandparents fighting gay adoption bid
By Marcello Mega and Jane Simpson
Last updated at 2:06 AM on 01st February 2009
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A multi-millionaire is funding a legal challenge to halt the controversial adoption of two young children by a gay couple.
In a move brokered by the Catholic Church in Scotland, the businessman has agreed to help meet the legal costs of a court bid to block plans to hand the brother and sister to two men.
Support: (centre) of children being adopted by gay couple with her grandparents (left and right)
The Mail on Sunday can reveal that a top law firm has been instructed to help the grandparents of the children, whom social workers ruled were too old, at 46 and 59, to offer a loving home.
With the support of the benefactor and the Catholic Church, the family hope the move will quickly lead to a judicial review of Edinburgh City Council's decision to remove the four-year-old girl and her five-year-old brother from their family.
The tycoon, who has requested anonymity, was among a group of businessmen considering offering the family financial support after the adoption plans were revealed last week.
His offer has received the 'moral backing' of the Catholic Church, which is fundamentally opposed to gay adoptions.
Last night a spokesman for the Church said: 'As well as the moral issue there is also a legal question, which needs to be explored. Lawyers will be taking this forward with the family.
'Allowing two men to adopt children against the wishes of their grandparents who want to care for them is positively wicked.'
Phone call: Social worker Heather Rush allegedly told the two children's grandparents that they will have no more contact after speaking out
The development comes after the devastated grandparents, who cannot be named for legal reasons, made an official complaint to council bosses.
They have claimed they were warned they would never see the children again unless they dropped their opposition to the adoption, and again threatened with the same fate for speaking out publicly.
The family claim they have been victims of 'bullying' social workers and politically-correct manipulation.
The devoted couple had fought for two years for the right to care for their grandchildren, whose 26-year-old mother is a recovering heroin addict.
They agreed to an adoption only after they faced being financially crippled by legal bills and were promised continued contact with the children.
But they were devastated when they were told the children were going to be placed with a homosexual couple.
There were several heterosexual couples on the council's books willing to offer a loving home – leading to suggestions that the council was operating a politically-correct quota system.
The move flew in the face of social-work reports that show the girl is 'wary' of men.
Last night the grandmother broke down in tears when told of the mystery benefactor's desire to help block the adoption.
She said: 'I can't believe anyone would do that for us. We are so grateful.'
Her husband, a farm worker, added: 'Because of the generosity of a stranger, we might have a chance to put things right, not only for our family but for others who are put in this position.'