Colin Farrell has spoken candidly about the decision to place his 21-year-old son, James, into a care facility.

The Oscar-winning actor, 48, shares James with ex-partner Kim Bordenave.

James has Angelman syndrome, a rare neurogenetic disorder that can affect speech, movement and development. According to the NHS, people with the condition typically have a near-normal life expectancy but require lifelong support.

“It’s tricky – some parents will say, ‘I want to take care of my child myself’, and I respect that,” Farrell told Candis magazine.

Farrell set up a charity in honour of his son last year (Chris Pizzello/AP)

“But my horror would be, what if I have a heart attack tomorrow, and, God forbid, James’ mother, Kim, has a car crash and she’s taken too – and then James is on his own?”

“And he goes where? We’d have no say in it.”

The actor added that they hope to “find somewhere we like where he can go now, while we’re still alive and healthy, that we can go and visit, and we can take him out sometimes”.

He added: “We want him to find somewhere where he can have a full and happy life, where he feels connected.”

Last year, the actor launched a foundation in honour of his son, saying he wants the world to “treat him with kindness and respect”.

Named the Colin Farrell Foundation, the charity will aim to support adult children with intellectual disabilities such as his son’s, with advocacy, education and innovative programmes.

He told People magazine he wanted the world to “be kind” to James when as he turned 21, when he will become too old for a number of support systems provided for him.

Farrell added: “I want the world to treat him with kindness and respect.

“Once your child turns 21, they’re kind of on their own.

“All the safeguards that are put in place, special ed (education) classes, that all goes away, so you’re left with a young adult who should be an integrated part of our modern society and more often than not is left behind.”

He said he had wanted to do something for children with special needs and their families “for years”.

The actor said James and those like him had “earned the right to have a greater degree of individuality and autonomy on life, and a greater degree of community”.