Agency seeks to keep premature baby from parents

A case in which the new Child and Family Agency is seeking to keep a 10-weeks premature boy from the care of his parents has heard contested claims his mother smoked up to 80 cigarettes a day while pregnant.

The case involves claims from the CFA that the child’s parents are effectively homeless, while the parents say they have plans in place for secure lodgings in Dublin and are capable of looking after the boy, who was born on Oct 3, weighing 2lb.

The case is being heard before Judge Tim Lucey in Cork District Court. Recent changes to the in-camera rule allow the media to report on family and childcare proceedings, albeit under strict conditions.

The boy is still in the hospital in which he was born and is the subject of an interim care order. The CFA is seeking a six-month care order that could mean him moving to a foster family.

The court heard that four days after the child’s birth his parents were informed that the CFA would be seeking an order.

Numerous claims from different witnesses were made yesterday, including from a social worker that the baby’s mother smoked up to 80 cigarettes a day during the pregnancy. Mairead Carey, barrister for the parents, said the mother denies the claim and said another report suggested she had smoked six a day.

The couple are currently staying in a hostel close to the hospital where the baby is being cared for, and a senior social worker involved in the case said there was “a pattern of transience” in the life of the mother, who was herself in care in her youth.

The court heard she had developed a “mistrust” of social workers and other childcare professionals and that she had previously had a child who went into a foster placement.

The social worker also said nursing staff had raised issues over the mother’s personal hygiene — including her body odour — and over concerns about the baby’s parents interacting with other babies in the unit.

The court heard that one unit report suggested that the parents of another baby had requested the child be moved because “aspects of their behaviour ... was not appropriate”, including reports of rowing and of engaging with other babies.

Ms Carey told the court that the woman had an “extremely miserable childhood” but that her client, while having had difficulties in the past, was now completely focused on her child’s wellbeing and being involved in caring for him.

A consultant neonatologist in the hospital where the baby was born said the boy’s parents have been regularly attending to him, either together or individually.

“I believe he is still a vulnerable little boy, especially over the first year of his life,” he said, adding that monitoring would be important, as would being away from tobacco smoke.

He said he found the parents’ behaviour to have been “completely appropriate” and the mother had shown care in learning how to feed her child.

A psychiatrist who testified said there was no evidence of depression or a personality disorder in the woman but he agreed should could be “volatile” and “impulsive”, adding that she would have to learn to work with professionals involved in her child’s care instead of maintaining a “mistrust” of them. He said a supervision order might allow them to keep the child while being monitored by social services.

The court heard that the father is from Dublin and that plans were in place to move into his parents’ house. Both grandparents are expected to give evidence at the hearing.

Judge Lucey said it was up to the CFA to prove that both parents were incapable of looking after the child if its bid to secure a full care order was to be successful.

The hearing, which could last for four days, continues today.