04 July 2023 , 13:50
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A man who was left in a bin as a baby finally met his half-brother in a jaw-dropping episode of Long Lost Family.
The ITV series, presented by Nicky Campbell and Davina McCall, breaks the hearts of millions of viewers every week, and Monday night’s episode was no exception.
The latest instalment focused on Paul Connolly, who was born in east London in 1962, and spent his childhood in care.
His mother suffered a breakdown and “put him out with the rubbish” when he was just a few weeks old, but a neighbour heard his cries and called social services.
Paul hunted for his father, but found his half-brother instead (ITV)During the episode, Paul said he had been searching for his father’s side of the family, as he only had brief contact with his mum’s Irish relatives.
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But viewers were stunned when it was revealed not only did Paul have a paternal half brother, Frankie Peroni, but the boys had unknowingly attended the same school in Essex at the same time.
The 60-year-old was gifted a DNA kit by his two sons, which led him to discover he was half Maltese and, in emotional scenes that aired during Monday’s episode, Paul and Frankie were finally reunited.
He was stunned to learn he and Frankie attended the same school (ITV)“Of course it is later in life that we've found each other, but at the same time, I think you've just got to be grateful for everyday,” he told the cameras.
“I started out looking for my father and instead I found a brother. So the future is bright as they say,” he added.
Paul had a tough childhood after being abandoned by his mother, and at eight years old he was taken to St. Leonard’s Children’s Home in Hornchurch, Essex, where he said he endured a lot of “mental torture” and “physical beatings”.
The brothers had an emotional reunion (ITV)“I slept under the bed... my comfort was a kitchen knife with a wooden handle, I held on to that for dear life,” he recalled.
He discovered his father was a Maltese shop owner called Philip Psaila, also known as Pino, who sadly died in 1968.
Paul said he had limited contact with his biological mother, and said she was “embarrassed that I was illegitimate”.
“She had a tough upbringing and she had to do what she had to do to survive. It was probably the best thing she could have done really,” he said.