Concern over delays in adoption of Baby Ann

THE Irish Foster Care Association has expressed concern about delays by the Adoption Board in finalising the adoption process involved in the landmark Baby Ann ruling by the Supreme Court this week.

The IFCA, which provides support and information to foster parents, said it had appeared that somebody had been “dragging their heels” over the failure of the Adoption Board to sign an adoption order.

Such an action is the final step in the adoption process and should have followed after the child’s natural mother had signed a final consent form in July 2005 to allow the adoption go ahead.