Cases Archive

Evidence – Child – Sexual abuse – Child interviewed by hospital with regard to possible sexual abuse by father – Parents seeking care and control of child – Request by hospital for ruling that transcripts and videos of interviews should not be seen by child’s parents – Factors to be considered

Care proceedings – Full care hearing due to be heard – Guardian ad litem initiating wardship proceedings in High Court – Whether guardian ad litem having locus standi to issue such proceedings – Whether wardship proceedings should be terminated.

Adoption – Agreement – Natural father unaware of child’s existence until informed of adoption proceedings – Child placed with prospective adopters as baby – Whether father withholding agreement unreasonably

Wardship – Children joined as parties – Appointment of guardian ad litem – Guardian ad litem in juvenile court proceedings applying to be guardian in wardship proceedings – Matters to be taken into account in appointment of guardian ad litem.

Care proceedings – Institution of proceedings following allegations of sexual abuse by father – Father charged with sexual offences – Father applying for adjournment of care proceedings until after criminal trial – Magistrates refusing father’s application – Whether magistrates were wrong to refuse to adjourn the care proceedings pending the outcome of the criminal trial.

Adoption – Adoption by parent and step-parent – Application by natural mother and stepfather to adopt two children by her previous marriage – Third child not included in application but residing with applicants – Social worker and guardian ad litem opposing application on grounds that adoption order might be divisive to the three children and concerned over stepfather’s alleged drink problem and his refusal to discuss matter – Judge refusing to grant application – Whether his decision ‘plainly wrong’ in all the circumstances

Wardship – Duty of court to protect wards – Public interest – Police seeking access to medical records, video recordings and local authority case records with regard to children allegedly subjected to sexual abuse – Whether leave of court required for disclosure of material for criminal investigations – Different categories of material – Criteria for grant of leave

Child in care – Local authority terminating parental access – Complaint by parent for access to the juvenile court – Subsequent application by local authority to the county court to free for adoption – Imminent hearing for directions at county court – Application by local authority to adjourn juvenile court proceedings – Justices agreeing to adjourn juvenile court proceedings pending outcome of application before county court – Appeal by parent against decision to adjourn – Whether decision to adjourn justified.