Family denounces disappearance of three babies in the 1970s

ALGECIRAS (Agencies) A new case of allegedly 'stolen babies' is splashing the old Charity hospital in Algeciras (photo) and a private clinic that is now closed. A family has reported the 'stealing' of three baby girls born at those places in the 1970s. The first of them was allegedly stolen in 1973 when Isabel Gómez gave birth to a girl at the hospital. "As soon as she was born, the midwife and two nuns took the baby away. I didn't even have time to see her face," says Isabel, who adds that shortly afterwards she was told her daughter had died. "We insisted on seeing her but we were told it was better not to," adds Isabel's father, Juan Barranco. Having been informed of the baby's death the medical staff said they would take care of all the funeral expenses. "But we were never told why she died and we never had a death certificate. They never said where she was to be buried," says the family, who it turns out had family burial insurance that would have covered the costs. "I told them I'd go home for the papers, but they said it wouldn't be necessary," adds Barranco. Reliable sources report that the doctor involved in the case above, is also involved in another case at the La Caridad hospital in 1969. But the story does not end there.>

"We never suspected anything at the time. How were we to imagine what was going on?," asks Juan. But the couple wanted more children, and one of the hospital's gynaecologist encouraged them to go to the private clinic, where Isabel gave birth in 1975 and 1977, to girls on both occasions.

According to her gynaecologist at the time, the first baby died at birth. The second (or third) lived for three days before the family was told that she too had died. Again, there were no death certificates and not a word about the cause of death. "We insisted and insisted we wanted to see the babies but that was constantly denied. In fact, in the 1977 case I went to the cemetery -the only time we were told where the baby was to be buried- and was shown the coffin that supposedly contained her. I said I wanted to see her but again I was told that wasn't possible. She was put in a common grave," says Juan. "This time everything looked a bit strange," adds Isabel, "because when we went to pay the doctor we were told it wasn't necessary."

Now the family decided to go to another clinic.

 

"When I spoke to the new gynaecologist about the death of my three girls he seemed surprised as I was perfectly healthy and there had been no complications. In fact, I had my other daughter there with no problem at all," says the mother.

The family left the area for Asturias in 2000 and is presently gathering as much data and documentation as possible to, should their suspicions be confirmed, take the matter to court. "In part, we left so that we could forget it all," concludes Juan.