Infant abandoned at 4 days old 'thriving and bonding' with sister in foster care, court told
TUSLA granted care order for baby boy abandoned at four day old after mother walked out of maternity unit
A baby boy effectively abandoned when his mother discharged herself from a regional maternity hospital is "thriving and bonding" with his older sister in his ‘fantastic” foster placement, a court has heard.
At the Family Law Court in Co Clare, Judge Alec Gabbett granted TUSLA the Child and Family Agency (CFA) a six month care order for the boy.
After the child’s mother discharged herself from the maternity unit in December, TUSLA moved in and secured an Interim Care Order (ICO) for the then four day old baby boy.
The baby boy is the couple’s fourth child to enter State care and the TUSLA worker told the court that the boy is now living with a sister in the same foster placement. The brother and sister’s two siblings are in foster care in another county.
Judge Gabbett made the six month order after the parents’ failure to appear at any monthly Interim Care Order (ICO) proceedings since last December and not engage with TUSLA concerning their new baby.
Solicitor for TUSLA, Kevin Sherry told the court that “mother is still effectively evading any communication with the CFA as is the children’s father”.
Before granting the six month care order, Judge Gabbett commented: “I have no choice but to make an order and six months is very proportionate.”
Commenting on the case previously, Judge Gabbett said: “The mother discharged herself from the maternity hospital and effectively abandoned the baby knowing exactly what was going to happen as it happened three times before.”
The TUSLA appointed care worker in the case told Judge Gabbett said that the baby is now four months old and “is doing great” and ‘thriving’ in his placement.
Judge Gabbett said: “It sounds like the baby is perfectly well looked after - everything is going well.”
In reply the TUSLA care worker told Judge Gabbett: “It is a fantastic placement and meeting all his needs. His sister is there with him. He is bonding with her and it is a very positive outcome in terms of his placement.”
The care worker stated that there has been no formal access request by the parents to see their baby.
The care worker said that two days in January and the beginning of February were offered “but work was the reason put forward by the father as to why he couldn’t attend and I have had no further requests”.
Solicitor for TUSLA, Kevin Sherry told the court that there is “significant parental disharmony” and that the father has come to the attention of the Gardai.
Judge Gabbett said that he was aware of that but “it is nothing serious” and traffic offence related.
Mr Sherry said that TUSLA was dealing with “a very vulnerable mother”.
The care worker stated that the court appointed Guardian ad litem (GAL) to provide an independent voice for the children, is a point of contact with the mother.
Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to September.