Why Colin Farrell Plans To Place His Son In A Care Facility Even Though He Could Look After Him At Home

Colin Farrell recently opened up about why he wants his son to receive professional care in a dedicated facility instead of being looked after at home long-term.

In August last year, the actor spoke publicly for the first time about his son James Padraig Farrell, who is now 21 years old. James has a rare condition called Angelman Syndrome, which brings with it a wide range of developmental and intellectual challenges.

This particular disorder is genetic and leads to significant delays in areas like speech, movement, and overall development. It’s something Colin and his family have been navigating for years.

During a chat with PEOPLE magazine, Colin shared that he hopes society can grow more compassionate and understanding toward people like his son. He co-parents James with his ex-partner Kim Bordenave, and he emphasized how tough it still is to find the right kind of support especially in the U.S., where many state services come to a halt once a person turns 21.

Now, in a fresh interview with Candis magazine, Farrell explained his choice to eventually transition James into a care facility, even though he could technically continue looking after him himself.

He said: "It's tricky, some parents will say: 'I want to take care of my child myself.' And I respect that. 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."

Colin Farrell and son James in 2009. Phillip Massey/FilmMagic

Colin also spoke about what he and Kim ultimately want for their son as he gets older and his needs evolve.

He continued: "And one thing I can say about James is that he knows when somebody wants to be with him, and he knows when somebody's just supposed to be with him."

"So, if he has a carer or a teacher or somebody who's doing physical therapy with him and they're not fully engaged and fully loving with him, he'll just switch off."

Farrell said he wants a community for his son incase the worst happens to him and James' mother Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

"What his mother and I want is 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, by going out in the van every day and going to the supermarket and doing the shopping together, by going to the beach, museums, movies, all that stuff. Just a connected life."