The District Court made time-limited care orders for three children after finding that they had suffered physical and emotional abuse and wilful neglect. The orders run until summer 2017 for Child A and autumn 2017 for Child B and Child C, when the cases are to return to court for review.
The Child and Family Agency had sought care orders for the children until they turned 18. Their parents opposed that application and sought the children’s return, while agreeing that supervision orders could be made if the children returned to their care. The Guardian ad Litem supported care orders.
After hearing evidence over 15 days from 19 witnesses, the court found that the parents’ relationship had involved domestic violence and instability, which exposed the children to violence. It accepted Child A’s accounts of physical chastisement as credible and consistent, rejected the parents’ claim that she had lied, and found that Child B’s statements reflected her own experience. The court found excessive physical chastisement of Child A, lesser physical chastisement of Child B, and that Child C had been hit at least once with a stick. It also found emotional abuse of all three children and wilful neglect.
The court said the parents had not meaningfully taken on professional advice or developed empathy for the children’s experiences. It found that the father remained in denial and had difficulty controlling anger and aggression, and that the mother had not protected the children when he lost control. The court also noted evidence of improved parental engagement during the proceedings and concluded that the parents should have an opportunity to address the concerns through therapeutic support.
For Child A, the court ordered care until summer 2017, with a review and reappointment of the Guardian ad Litem six weeks beforehand. Directions include supported access with each parent in line with Child A’s timetable, therapy for both parents, and therapy for Child A. For Child B and Child C, care orders run until autumn 2017, with reviews and Guardian ad Litem reappointments six weeks beforehand. Directions include access with the parents and therapy for both parents.
Further directions cover all three children. The Agency must bring the matter back to court if a placement changes, a child lacks an allocated social worker for four weeks, or statutory care reviews are not held on time. The Agency is also to support the children’s experience of their Portuguese heritage, seek help from the Family Migrant Support Service in communicating with the parents, and arrange sibling access as regularly as possible. These orders do not decide whether the children will ultimately return home; the court identified reconciliation with Child A as an indicator of progress relevant to any return.