Colin Farrell reveals devastating reason he has to put his son into care
Colin has two sons - James and Henry.
Colin Farrell has explained why he plans to put his son into a long-term care facility.
Throughout his career the Irish actor has won three Golden Globes and been nominated for an Academy Award.
His first acting credit was in the 1998 BBC drama series Ballykissangel while he made his film debit in The War Zone the following year. Other notable projects since then have included Minority Report, In Bruges and The Banshees of Inisherin.
The 48-year-old also has two sons – 21-year-old James Padraig Farrell, whom he shares with American model Kim Bordenave and 15-year-old Henry Tadeusz Farrell, whose mother is Polish actress Alicja Bachleda-Curuś.
In 2007 Colin shared publicly that his eldest son has Angelman syndrome, a neurological condition which can cause movement disorder, difficulty swallowing, slow brain wave patterns, epilepsy, low muscle tone and breathing problems.
Last year he broke down in tears speaking about his son’s diagnosis for the first time in depth, sharing he was initially worried about James’ life expectancy and whether he was in pain.
The Irish actor has two sons – James and Henry (Picture: Charles Sykes/ Variety via Getty Images) James, whose mother is American model Kim Bordenave, was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome when he was two years old (Picture: Kim Bordenave/ Instagram)In 2021 Colin and his ex-Kim went on to file for conservatorship of their son so they could manage his personal needs and medical decisions.
They requested to be granted power to make decisions about his education, control his social and sexual relationships – including whether or not he can marry – access confidential records, and grant or refuse permission for medical procedures.
A few years on Colin has spoken about why they need to one day also place him into a care facility.
‘It’s tricky, some parents will say: “I want to take care of my child myself.” And I respect that,’ he said.
‘But my horror would be…what if I have a heart attack tomorrow, and, God forbid, James’ mother, Kim, has a car crash and she’s taken too – and then James is on his own?
‘Then he’s a ward of the state and he goes where? We’d have no say in it,’ he added when speaking to Candis magazine.
Colin and his ex are now looking for a care facility that will allow him to have a ‘full and happy life’ (Picture: Kim Bordenave/ Instagram)The pair are now looking to ‘find somewhere we like where he can go now, while we’re still alive and healthy, that we can go and visit, and we can take him out sometimes’.
‘We want him to find somewhere where he can have a full and happy life, where he feels connected. He needs a bigger life than we can afford him, by having a sense of community that he feels connected to,’ he added.
Last year Colin spoke about becoming concerned when James was a baby and noticing he wasn’t hitting certain developmental milestones.
What is Angelman syndrome?Angelman syndrome is a rare genetic condition that affects the nervous system and causes severe physical and learning disabilities.
A person with Angelman syndrome will have a near-normal life expectancy, but they will need support throughout their life.
The NHS explains that children with the syndrome begin to show signs of delayed development at around six to 12 months of age, such as being unable to sit unsupported or make babbling noises, while they also may frequently laugh and smile, be restless and have a short attention span.
Later, they may not speak at all or may only be able to say a few words while their movement will also be affected.
A blood test is used to confirm the diagnosis.
Various treatments used to manage the syndrome include anti-epileptic medicine to control seizures, physiotherapy, communication therapy and behavioural therapy.
Most people with the syndrome will have learning disability and limited speech throughout their life. In adults, some mobility may be lost, and joints may stiffen.
He would also have outbreaks of laughter and wave his hands.
Although he was initially misdiagnosed with cerebral palsy, when he was two, another doctor suggested James be tested for Angelman syndrome.
Speaking about his son eventually take his first steps just before his fourth birthday, as many people who suffer from the condition are unable to walk, Colin teared up recalling the ‘overwhelmingly beautiful’ moment.
Colin spoke in depth publicly about his son’s diagnosis in depth for the first time last year (Picture: Arturo Holmes/ Getty Images )‘He works harder than I’ve ever had to work on myself,’ he told People.
‘If anything, he also gifts me with the ability to look at the human being, the human body, and life as a marvel. I see how much he struggles with things I would never have given a second’s thought to. That many of us take for granted.’
Speaking about his son, he added: ‘I want the world to be kind to James. I’m proud of him every day, because I just think he’s magic.’
Colin has also previously credited his son to sparking his sobriety after he went to rehab in 2006.
‘Part of the fuel that I used to get off alcohol and drugs and all that stuff was knowing he had health issues. All children need their parents — or a parent or grandparent or somebody — to care for them,’ he said.
‘One of the things James taught me was to access within myself a desire to live, even if it was initially more about me thinking I wanted to live to be around for him,” he continued.’
He also shares son Henry Tadeusz Farrell with Polish actress Alicja Bachleda-Curuś(Picture: Frederic J. Brown/ AFP)
When James was four, Colin spoke about his diagnosis for the first time and praised his son’s ‘amazing courage’.
In 2007 he told InStyle: ‘He has enriched my life, but I don’t want to minimize the trials that so many families go through; the fear, consternation, frustration, and pain… When you’re the parent of a child with special needs, it’s important to feel that you’re not alone.’
Colin and Kim dated from 2001 to 2003.
Last year he launched Colin Farrell Foundation to provide support for adult children who have intellectual disabilities through advocacy, education and innovative programs.
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