Boy had no bond with either carer

From an early age, there were concerns about the parenting this child was receiving.

He was passed between his mother and a much older relative and had no stability in his life. Just short of his fourth birthday, he came to the attention of the HSE after it emerged that he could be the victim of physical abuse. However, he was returned to this older relative and went back and forth to the UK, where his mother now lived.

Allegations of physical abuse persisted, and it emerged the boy saw a lot of problem drinking when with the older relative. He was also regularly left home alone. A little over a year later, he was put into care.