Baby thriving with foster family after being 'effectively abandoned' by parents

The Tusla appointed care worker in the case said that the baby is now four months old and 'is doing great'.

A baby boy who was "effectively abandoned" when his mother discharged herself from a regional maternity hospital is "thriving and bonding" with his older sister in his "fantastic” foster placement, a court has heard.

At the Family Law Court, Judge Alec Gabbett granted Tusla a six-month care order for the boy.

After the child’s mother discharged herself from the maternity unit in December, Tusla moved in and secured an interim care order (ICO) for the then-four-day-old baby boy.

The baby boy is the couple’s fourth child to enter State care and the Tusla worker told the court that the boy is now living with a sister in the same foster placement. The brother and sister’s two siblings are in foster care in another county.

Judge Gabbett made the six-month order after the parents’ failure to appear at any monthly ICO proceedings since last December and not engage with Tusla about their new baby.

Solicitor for Tusla, Kevin Sherry, told the court that “mother is still effectively evading any communication" with Tusla, as is the children’s father.

Before granting the six-month care order, Judge Gabbett commented: “I have no choice but to make an order, and six months is very proportionate.”

Commenting on the case previously, Judge Gabbett said: “The mother discharged herself from the maternity hospital and effectively abandoned the baby knowing exactly what was going to happen, as it happened three times before.” 

The Tusla appointed care worker in the case told Judge Gabbett said that the baby is now four months old and “is doing great” and "thriving" in his placement.

Judge Gabbett said: “It sounds like the baby is perfectly well looked after — everything is going well.”

The care worker replied: “It is a fantastic placement and meeting all his needs. His sister is there with him. He is bonding with her and it is a very positive outcome in terms of his placement.” 

The care worker also said there has been no formal access request by the parents to see their baby.

The care worker said that two days in January and the beginning of February were offered, “but work was the reason put forward by the father as to why he couldn’t attend, and I have had no further requests”.

Kevin Sherry for Tusla said it is dealing with "a very vulnerable mother".