Woman gave birth in Ireland to ‘escape social services’

The High Court has cleared the way for the transfer to Britain of an Irish-born baby girl whose mother had come to Ireland to "escape social services" there.

The court heard yesterday that the child was born at a private residence in January to a mother who suffers from a number of psychological problems.

Childcare proceedings had already been brought in respect of an older child.

Last month, Mr Justice George Birmingham ruled that the child should be returned to Britain as it was in her best interests and because that country was best placed to deal with her care.

Ms Justice Iseult O Malley granted the Child and Family Agency orders allowing the transfer of the child to Britain and granting the agency leave to make arrangements with social services in England.

Sarah McKechnie, barrister for the Child and Family Agency said the mother, who is a British citizen, had travelled to Ireland on a false ID “to escape social services in Britain”.

She said the child was taken into care in Ireland some weeks after she was born and after a concerned neighbour had made representations to the authorities.

Since taken into care, she had been with a foster family.

The woman’s other child was currently being cared for in Britain by the children’s father.

Counsel said that it was envisaged that after a short period the baby girl born in Ireland would also be placed in the care of her father.

Lawyers for the child’s mother, who has had supervised access to her daughter, told the court it was her preference the child would remain in Ireland as she did not intend to return to Britain.