In 2021, RTÉ Investigates revealed that he had illegally and covertly transferred children from mothers in Magdalene asylums to childless couples.
As a young man, de Valera Jr. was strongly influenced by his father's close friend, Dr. Robert Farnan, a noted, wealthy gynaecologist and founder member of Fianna Fáil, who had sheltered his father when he was sought by the British authorities.
[1][2] Eamon married Sarah O'Doherty, from Carndonagh, County Donegal, in April 1941.
[2] In March 2021, the national Irish broadcaster, RTÉ, revealed in their programme RTÉ Investigates that de Valera Jr. was involved in the illegal provision of babies to childless couples over a few decades.
[3][4][5] In his private life, de Valera enjoyed fishing, tennis, music and nature.