Judge rebukes Tusla over its 'serious failings' as he refuses girl's adoption

The judge listed a litany of “manifold and serious failings” on the part of the CFA, including that it had failed to support appropriate access visits and to support the relationship between Miss B and her natural mother, who had objected to the adoption application. File photo

A High Court judge has rebuked the Child and Family Agency (CFA) for having “completely failed” to support a relationship between the child and her natural mother as he refused to approve the adoption of a 17-year-old girl.

Mr Justice Max Barrett said the girl’s natural mother had proven herself to be a “demonstrably competent” parent for her other children and was “literally begging” for a relationship with her daughter, referred to as Miss B.