Parents to care for baby after judge refuses care order bid

A baby boy born 10 weeks premature who has been at the centre of a court battle will now be cared for by his parents after a judge yesterday refused an application from the Child and Family Agency to have him placed in foster care.

Judge Tim Lucey instead granted a 12-month supervision order which will mean the boy, who weighed just 2lbs when he was born, will enter his parents’ care when he is discharged from hospital.

He has been in the hospital since his birth on Oct 3, and the HSE applied four days later for an interim care order before later applying for a six-month full care order.