Teen sues for being moved to Protestant foster care

A CATHOLIC teenager has launched a £70,000 (€103,147) damages action against a council for sending her to live with Protestant foster parents.

The 18-year-old claims she was denied the opportunity to follow her religious persuasion during her time in care from the age of eight.

She is now seeking the money in damages from Highland Council.

A judge has given the go-ahead for the case to be heard at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, Scotland’s supreme civil court.

In a written judgment, Lord Uist said the action involved “novel and difficult questions of law”.

The girl, who is only identified in court papers as ‘AR’, was taken into care in 1997 after moving from the south of England to the Scottish Highlands with her mother, stepfather and brother. She remained in care for the next nine years.

Papers lodged in court state: “Although she is a Roman Catholic, the defenders placed her with two sets of foster carers who were Protestants and failed to facilitate her continuing to follow her religious persuasion.”

The teenager, who returned to her mother’s care last year, claims she has suffered from anxiety, distress, depression and educational impairment as a result of the council’s actions.

No date has been set for a further hearing.