Bookies criticised for giving odds on African adoptions

Aid agencies have criticised Paddy Power after the bookmaker offered odds on the next celebrity couple to adopt an African orphan.

Under the title "Out of Africa! - Celebrity Baby Craze" the bookmaker yesterday issued a press release about the "baby boom" caused by celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Madonna adopting African children.

"Angelina Jolie famously did it and so too has Madonna, and we're not talking about bedding some of the hottest men in Hollywood!" the release began, before going on to offer odds ranging from 6/4 for Jolie and Brad Pitt adopting again, to 66/1 for Tony and Cherie Blair and 250/1 for Ken and Barbie.

However, Plan Ireland, which works to improve the conditions for children in developing countries, said the exercise made a mockery of the underlying issue of the lack of support for orphans.

"We would strongly urge Paddy Power to stop this money-making exercise on the back of poor children in developing countries."

Trócaire said: "We suggest Paddy Power might find a more appropriate way of making a few bob rather than trading on the misery of the world's most vulnerable."

Expressing disgust at the bet, World Vision chief executive Helen Keogh said: "Paddy Power has trivialised a very serious situation, trying to turn the life-and-death situation facing orphans and vulnerable children in Africa into tabloid fodder.

"Rather than debating who the next celebrity to adopt will be, we should be discussing the role of the international community in improving the life chances of orphans and vulnerable children so that taking children out of their families and communities will no longer be seen as necessary."

A spokesman for Paddy Power claimed it was responding to customer demand in offering the bet.

"People were requesting this after Madonna adopted her baby in Malawi. This has been taken up wrong; it was more a jibe against celebrities than any attack on orphans from Africa. It was meant in jest."