M50 Romanian woman's court action adjourned

A High Court action brought by a Romanian woman and her six-month-old baby who has been staying at a camp on a roundabout on the M50 aimed at securing family support services has been adjourned until Friday.

On Monday, Mariora Rostas and her six month old son Antei, who earlier this month was taken into care for a time, are part of the group of Roma who had been residing at the roundabout on the M50 in Ballymun.

She brought High Court proceedings against the HSE aimed at securing family support services, including emergency accommodation.

The HSE application for a care order was subsequently withdrawn. Leave to bring the proceedings was granted by Mr Justice Michael Peart.

Today at the High Court Mr Justice George Birmingham agreed to adjourn the matter to Friday after being told by counsel for the HSE Mr Felix McEnroy SC that Ms Rostas wished to bring to the attention of his clients certain information.

He said that the HSE had pencilled in a case conference for August 1 in relation to the infant, but would consider bringing that forward once they are provided with that information.

Counsel for Ms Rostas, who has been in Ireland for over a month, Mr Paul Burns SC, consented to the adjournment.

At a previous hearing the court was told by Mr Burns that on July 14 last at Ballymun the infant was removed from Mariora Rostas, while she was begging on a busy road, by the Gardaí under the Childcare Act. The child was then placed in care.

Two days later the child was placed in emergency care by the HSE on foot of a District Court order.

On July 20, at a following sitting of Dublin District Court the HSE withdrew its application and the child was returned to the mother.

Rosanna Flynn of Residents Against Racism comments on the voluntary repatriation of the Roma people at the M50.