The biological father of baby Gammy addresses concerns for his daughter's welfare when asked about his child sex offences. Courtesy: 60 Minutes/Nine Network
The Australian parents of baby Gammy speak for the very first time on 60 minutes in an exclusive interview. Courtesy: Channel 9
Intense media interest ... Wendy and David Farnell. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied
THE Australian biological parents of baby Gammy said they did not abandon him because the newborn had Down syndrome.
David Farnell held back tears as he told 60 Minutes last night that their surrogate mother 21-year-old Pattaramon Chanbua. threatened to take their biological daughter, Pipah, away if they didn't leave Gammy with her.
"The surrogate mother wanted to take our girl," Mr Farnell said. "We were scared we were going to lose her. We had to try and get out as fast as we could."
He said he and his wife, Wendy, did not leave Gammy because the new born had Down syndrome.
OPINION: Crocodile tears from couple over baby Gammy on 60 Minutes
"We never abandoned him," he said. "We never said to the surrogate mother to have an abortion."
But he acknowledged they were shocked by the news of finding that Gammy had Down syndrome and they had not decided what to do with him before leaving Australia for Thailand.
"(The agency said) the surrogate mother wants this boy, we were thinking maybe this might be okay," Mr Farnell said. "When we got to the hospital and saw the two babies, everything changed."
Mr Farnell said: "It's been very stressing. We miss our little boy. I come home from work some days and Wendy has dressed our little girl all in blue, because she still wants to remember the little boy."
The Farnells speak out saying they wanted to bring home both of their babies. Source: Channel 9
The Farnells denied they abandoned their son, but admitted they had not called at all to check on Gammy's welfare.
They said they did not extend their Thai visas to be with him, and have not asked authorities or the agency for help in bringing him to Australia.
David Farnell admitted when they found out Gammy had Down syndrome, they rang the agency to "take responisbility".
"It was financial. Give us back our money. This is your fault," he said.
David claimed that doctors said of the health of baby Gammy that he had Down syndrome,
was in a serious condition and that they don't know how long he would survive because his lungs and organs were underdeveloped.
He claims their visas were about to run out and were forced to flee with Piper and leave Gammy behind. They admitted they didn't raise the issue of their son to Australian embassy, didn't apply to extend their visas and have not gone to authorities to get their son back.
The surrogate mother claims David and Wendy Farnell didn't even look at their son or buy milk for him. David claims they did buy Gammy milk and nappies and since returning to Australia they did send some money over but "can't remember how much money, a few thousand dollars maybe." They have never called to see how their son is.
"It has been very stressing, we miss our little boy."
Any regrets? "Yes, I have regrets that we didn't do enough, that we should have gone to the embassy and told them everything."
Farnell, a convicted sex offender, denied he would ever hurt his daughter.
David Farnell broke down in tears when pressed on his criminal past. Source: Channel 9
In tears, he added he would "get out" of the lives of his wife and daughter if it meant Pipah would be allowed to remain in Australia.
Of his past as a registered sex offender, David Farnell said: "I've been convicted of child sex offences and I hang my head in shame for that and I'm deeply regretful of that."
"I was convicted and I went to jail and when I got out of jail I thought ... I need to face everybody and face what I did.
"I copped a lot of horrible things but I stayed and I faced that."
Tara: "When did the sexual urges stop for you?"
David: "In prison through those counselling sessions."
Of how sure he is that his daughter Piper will be safe: "She will be 100 per cent safe because I know that I will do anything in the world to protect my little girl."
"I know that I do not have any urges of this nature at all."
Wendy said: "100 per cent trust I David to not do any wrong thing for the little girl," adding that she knew about his sex offender past when she married him.
David: "Everybody hates child sex offenders. They are the lowest form of people, I know that."
Social media sites erupted during and after the interview.
Tara: "The way the agency describes it is that they said there was no answer to the problem until the mother said she would take him."
David: "I can understand your question, I'm just finding it very difficult to get the answer out because I'm so stressed at the moment."
Tara: "Is the truth that you didn't want a baby with Down syndrome?"
David: "No- it's not a difficult decision, we wanted our babies."
Tara: "What forced you to go to Thailand?"
David admitted he and Wendy had been trying IVF for eight years, and it was so expensive.
David described their relationship with the surrogate mother as "Very good", saying: "We were so blessed with her - she was a young, healthy girl ... a very nice, caring person."
60 Minutes Executive Producer Tom Malone said: "The Australian parents of baby Gammy and his twin sister, have asked us for the opportunity to tell their side of the story."
"We never comment on any commercial arrangements between 60 Minutes and our interview subjects but given the nature of this story, it's important our viewers know that no money has been or will be paid to the parents. However, 60 Minutes will be making a donation to the charity Hands Across the Water, which is raising money for Gammy's ongoing treatment and care."
"60 Minutes has not in any way interfered with any inquiries by the Western Australian Department of Child Protection, or Western Australian Police."
Baby Gammy's Australian biological parents were hiding inside their home as child protection officers attended this week, and even when the family dog was taken away.
The Farnells holed up inside their Bunbury house, not showering or turning on a computer for fear the glow of the screen would alert the media pack gathered outside their home.
The pair appeared on 60 Minutes on Sunday night, saying they were also at home when the RSPCA took away their dog on Tuesday.
Rangers and RSPCA staff take away a dog from the Farnells' house on Tuesday ... it has since been revealed that the couple were inside the house at the time. Source: News Corp Australia
But the couple left the house around midnight on Wednesday, and made their approach to 60 Minutes then. It is understood 60 Minutes was not aware the couple had been in the house.
They filmed what is said to be an "emotional" interview with 60 Minutes reporter Tara Brown very late on Thursday night. It was shot in Western Australia, but not at the house.
In care ... baby Gammy with surrogate Pattharamon Chanbua. Source: News Corp Australia
The Voice Kids finalists Bella and Grace. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin Source: News Corp Australia
Awkward Sunday night scheduling ... 60 Minutes reporter Tara Brown. Source: Supplied
The sum is believed to be a "significant" amount.
SURROGACY CRACKDOWN HITS AUSSIE PARENTS
Surrogacy Australia says it knows of up to 200 would-be Australian parents caught in Thailand's planned crackdown on commercial surrogacy, but the number may be higher.
Spokeswoman Rachel Kunde said the organisation could only estimate the total amount because some were outside its network, including the West Australian couple at the centre of an international surrogacy drama.
Ms Kunde said the couple, who are accused of leaving their baby daughter's twin brother Gammy, who has Down syndrome, in Thailand with the surrogate mother, did not use Surrogacy Australia's services.
"They didn't go through our organisation so that is an example of the people that aren't getting advice from us and going overseas," she said.
Ms Kunde said they were working closely with the Australian embassy in Thailand to make sure surrogates were receiving obstetric care and knew they had not been abandoned by those who had commissioned them.
She said they were also trying to find out what happened to the frozen embryos of about 50 Australian couples at a Bangkok IVF clinic that closed in the wake of the Gammy surrogacy controversy.
There is growing concern among Australians using surrogates overseas about uncertain changes to commercial surrogacy laws, Ms Kunde said.
Thailand is preparing to fast-track legislation to outlaw commercial surrogacy, banning agencies acting as brokers, or accepting financial or other benefits.
Advertising for women to act as surrogates for commercial purposes would also be illegal.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Saturday called on the Thai government to allow a transitional period before the ban, to enable Australians to receive children still being carried by surrogates.
Meanwhile, the mother of Gammy's biological father, who is a convicted sex offender, has told The Sunday Times he is reformed and deserves to be a father again.
The 81-year-old said her son and his wife should be allowed to keep Gammy's sister because they loved her to bits and were very excited to be parents.
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