HSE ‘sought care order within days of birth’

A case in which the Child and Family Agency is seeking to keep a baby boy from the care of his parents has heard the HSE sought “the nuclear option” of a care order within days of the child’s premature birth.

The case, which is being heard at Cork District Court before Judge Tim Lucey, also heard claims that during the woman’s “difficult” pregnancy, social workers did not approach the mother or the father to moot the idea that the HSE would be seeking to take the child into care.

The Child and Family Support Agency has taken on the role of the HSE in such cases, and the court again heard claims the couple are effectively homeless.