“Doesn’t blackmail only work when only the blackmailer and the blackmailee know the goodies?”
Well, the theory is that he broke the law, and that his children could be taken from him at any time because the adoption could simply be pronounced invalid by the proper authorities.
So, it’s not blackmail of a nature that requires secret information. It’s blackmail of the “make him an offer he can’t refuse” variety, according to the theory.
I think that is what is known as a tortured path explanation. Not even the most died in the wool conspirist will buy that fantasy stretch.
Those adoptees are no longer little children, no one would ever try to force them back to Ireland. Talk about stepping onto a biblical cow pie!