Desmond Doyle
Encyclopedia
Desmond Doyle was an Irish painter, decorator and sometime pianist, whose children (Evelyn, Maurice, Noel, John, Kevin and Dermot) were taken into the custody of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) when his wife, Charlotte, left him on St. Stephen's Day
, 1953. After placing the children in what he believed to be a temporary situation, Doyle left for work in England. While there, he met Jessie Cunningham, who was his landlady and later accompanied him back to Ireland as his "housekeeper." Upon his return to his homeland in the fall of 1954, Doyle petitioned for the return of his children. Nevertheless, the government denied his request, citing the best interests of the children (and, it is believed, disapproval of his living arrangements with Miss Cunningham). He subsequently fought a legal battle to regain custody of them, which required overturning the provisions of the Irish Children's Act. This law prevented a father from caring for his own children in the absence of their mother unless she was living and gave written permission for him to do so. Doyle became involved in a case presented before the Irish Supreme Court in which it was claimed that the Children's Act contravened several sections of the Irish Constitution
. In December 1955, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Desmond Doyle, and ordered that the children be returned to him and that his court costs were to be reimbursed by the government.
The events leading up to the Supreme Court's decision were recounted in the book Evelyn: A True Story, by eldest daughter Evelyn Doyle (2003, Orion Publishing Group, London). The story was also published as Tea and Green Ribbons: A Memoir (2003, Free Press, New York). Her sequel describing the Doyles' life and Evelyn's life after the Supreme Court decision was published as Nothing Green: The Sequel to the Bestselling "Evelyn" (2004, Orion Publishing Group, London).
A highly fictionalised account of these events has been recorded in the film Evelyn
(2002), starring Pierce Brosnan
(who plays Desmond), Julianna Margulies
, Sophie Vavasseur
, Stephen Rea
and Aidan Quinn
and directed by Bruce Beresford
. The film only showed three children, Evelyn and two brothers (Maurice and Dermot), instead of all six of the real-life family's children.
St. Stephen's Day
St. Stephen's Day, or the Feast of St. Stephen, is a Christian saint's day celebrated on 26 December in the Western Church and 27 December in the Eastern Church. Many Eastern Orthodox churches adhere to the Julian calendar and mark St. Stephen's Day on 27 December according to that calendar, which...
, 1953. After placing the children in what he believed to be a temporary situation, Doyle left for work in England. While there, he met Jessie Cunningham, who was his landlady and later accompanied him back to Ireland as his "housekeeper." Upon his return to his homeland in the fall of 1954, Doyle petitioned for the return of his children. Nevertheless, the government denied his request, citing the best interests of the children (and, it is believed, disapproval of his living arrangements with Miss Cunningham). He subsequently fought a legal battle to regain custody of them, which required overturning the provisions of the Irish Children's Act. This law prevented a father from caring for his own children in the absence of their mother unless she was living and gave written permission for him to do so. Doyle became involved in a case presented before the Irish Supreme Court in which it was claimed that the Children's Act contravened several sections of the Irish Constitution
Constitution of Ireland
The Constitution of Ireland is the fundamental law of the Irish state. The constitution falls broadly within the liberal democratic tradition. It establishes an independent state based on a system of representative democracy and guarantees certain fundamental rights, along with a popularly elected...
. In December 1955, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Desmond Doyle, and ordered that the children be returned to him and that his court costs were to be reimbursed by the government.
The events leading up to the Supreme Court's decision were recounted in the book Evelyn: A True Story, by eldest daughter Evelyn Doyle (2003, Orion Publishing Group, London). The story was also published as Tea and Green Ribbons: A Memoir (2003, Free Press, New York). Her sequel describing the Doyles' life and Evelyn's life after the Supreme Court decision was published as Nothing Green: The Sequel to the Bestselling "Evelyn" (2004, Orion Publishing Group, London).
A highly fictionalised account of these events has been recorded in the film Evelyn
Evelyn (film)
Evelyn is a 2002 drama film, loosely based on the true story of Desmond Doyle and his fight against the Irish courts to be reunited with his children. The film stars Sophie Vavasseur in the title role, Pierce Brosnan as her father and Aidan Quinn, Julianna Margulies and Stephen Rea as supporters to...
(2002), starring Pierce Brosnan
Pierce Brosnan
Pierce Brendan Brosnan, OBE is an Irish actor, film producer and environmentalist. After leaving school at 16, Brosnan began training in commercial illustration, but trained at the Drama Centre in London for three years...
(who plays Desmond), Julianna Margulies
Julianna Margulies
Julianna Luisa Margulies is an American actress and producer.After several small television roles, Margulies achieved success in her regular role as Nurse Carol Hathaway on NBC's long-running medical drama ER, for which she won an Emmy Award...
, Sophie Vavasseur
Sophie Vavasseur
Sophie Vavasseur is an Irish actress best known for her award-nominated role as Evelyn Doyle in the American-German-British-Irish film Evelyn.- Career :...
, Stephen Rea
Stephen Rea
Stephen Rea is an Irish film and stage actor. Rea has appeared in high profile films such as V for Vendetta, Michael Collins, Interview with the Vampire and Breakfast on Pluto...
and Aidan Quinn
Aidan Quinn
-Early life:Quinn was born in Chicago, Illinois to Irish parents. He was brought up as a Roman Catholic and raised in Chicago and Rockford, Illinois, as well as in Dublin and Birr, County Offaly in Ireland. His mother, Teresa, was a homemaker, and his father, Michael Quinn, was a professor of...
and directed by Bruce Beresford
Bruce Beresford
Bruce Beresford is an Australian film director who has made more than 30 feature films over a 40-year career.-Early life:...
. The film only showed three children, Evelyn and two brothers (Maurice and Dermot), instead of all six of the real-life family's children.