Courts / Ireland / Report

'Life affirming' case sees teen adopted by foster mum

Summary

In a High Court decision on 13 January 2022, Mr Justice Max Barrett approved the adoption of a non‑national teenager by the woman who had cared for the child for many years after the child's birth mother died. The teenager, who arrived in Ireland with their mother over a decade ago, lost both parents shortly after arrival – the mother after giving birth to another child, and the newborn infant also died. The teenager had lived with an Irish foster mother for many years and both the child and the foster mother expressed a wish for adoption. The Adoption Authority of Ireland applied to the court for an order, noting that the identity of the child's father remained unknown and that no father had come forward to claim guardianship. The court found that all reasonable efforts to locate the father had been made and, given the lack of information, decided that the adoption could proceed without the father's consultation.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Life affirming' case sees teen adopted by foster mum. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• 2022-01-13 Publication

Why: The judge said he was making the order without the child's father having being consulted about the proposed adoption because, despite extensive efforts, the identity of the father remains unknown and it was therefore not possible to contact them. CNI source report

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

Read the original CNI report