CORLESS: MY SECRET MEETINGS WITH LIAM

Victims advocate & Neeson in film talks. Actor impressed by Catherine's work

- EMMA MCMENAMY

CATHERINE Corless has revealed she kept a visit from Liam Neeson top secret for fear of a backlash from "bible bashers".

The Tuam babies campaigner spent hours sat at her kitchen table with the Co Antrim actor discussing the scandal for an upcoming movie.

But the historian, who in 2014 uncovered 796 babies buried in a septic tank at the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home, said she had to keep it under wraps.

She told Irish Sunday Mirror: "I was told by journalist Dan Barry that after reading his article in The New York Times Liam Neeson wanted to ring me.

"I was like 'yeah right', but he did ring me and we have talked a few times since then.

"The first time he rang I said 'is that really you' and he said 'sure it is' in his Northern Ireland accent.

"He has never lost it. He's just so down to earth, he's just lovely. I was delighted to talk to him."

Taken star Neeson, 70, has been collaborating with Galway native Catherine, who is co-producing the upcoming film, for almost four years.

But Catherine, 68, revealed how they had to hatch a plan in secret for him to come and visit because she has faced a backlash from detractors.

She said: "He was coming to visit, back to Antrim and he said he would hop down.

"We had a lovely chat with him at the kitchen table for about three hours.

"The family were here to meet him and were thrilled.

"The way things were at the time I was really afraid people who were against me would say she's after the publicity'.

"We kept it quiet because I was adamant to keep the focus on the babies and what I was doing, because people would jump ahead and destroy me really.