Family: Gardaí have questions to answer over this

A Roma family whose child was wrongly taken from them on Monday due to claims she was not related to her parents said gardaí have “very serious” questions to answer over the case.

Speaking through their solicitor Waheed Mudah outside Dublin District Court last night, the Tallaght-based family — who cannot be identified in order to protect the child’s identity — said they have been left traumatised by what happened.

On Monday, the family’s 7-year-old daughter was taken by gardaí under section 12 of the Child Care Act 1991.

Officers moved after they were informed that the young girl was blonde and pale skinned and, it was alleged, bore no resemblance to her relatives.

However, the results of a DNA test detailed in court confirmed the girl is the daughter of the parents.

While the family said they were “delighted” by the news and the immediate return of their child last night, they said gardaí now have “very serious questions to answer”.

“Our clients are absolutely delighted that their daughter is coming home. Her removal has been a cause of huge upset to her parents, her brothers and sisters, and the young girl herself.

“Her parents greatly appreciate the help and assistance that they have been given by friends and relatives over the last few days.

“They now intend to concentrate on looking after their family and, in particular, in trying to reassure their daughter she will be left in their care.”

It continued the family “do not believe what happened over the last few days should ever have happened” and insisted there was no “proper or sufficient basis to take their daughter away from them, thereby causing her and them the upset which has been caused”.

Noting the alleged similarities between the case and an entirely separate incident last week in Greece, when a blonde white girl was found living with a Roma family who wrongly claimed she was their biological child, the Irish-based family said it is “going to be difficult to try to return to a normal life”.

They continued that there are underlying issues behind what they and their child were forced to endure by the State.

“There are very serious questions arising about the procedures used in this case, but [the family] are going to wait for things to settle and then consider their position and that of their daughter in light of recent events, and will be taking legal action in respect of this.”

The statement concluded: “Our clients would like those who hear this statement, and particular those who are parents themselves, to consider how they would feel if one of their children was taken away in similar circumstances, for similar reasons.

“They hope that no other family has to go through the experience that they have just suffered.”

The case is the second incident of a child being wrongly taken away from a Roma family in recent days.

In both cases, it was alleged the child may not be related to the family because of their appearance. However, in both cases, DNA tests proved this was an entirely inaccurate claim.

The judge who heard the case last night specifically lifted the in camera ruling on family law hearings so that the injured party could make their views clear on what happened.