Girl to be adopted after mum refuses to ID father

The High Court has ordered that the adoption of a girl aged 3 can proceed, following failed efforts to get her mother to identify the father so his consent could be obtained.

The woman, aged 22, had looked for the girl to be adopted after hiding her pregnancy from all but her sister, whose apartment she moved into for a short time before the baby was born. She kept the pregnancy secret and explained her increased weight by saying she had a metabolic condition.

Thirty weeks into her pregnancy, she sought early adoption of the baby. However, the adoption agency said she would have to first give the father’s name in his interests and those of the child. She refused, saying the father would be unable to cope with knowing about the child. She said the father was on regular medication for depression. She also said he had a number of stresses recently, including failing his exams, and his sister was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.