Care order extended for drug-addicted infant

An interim care order for an infant undergoing drug withdrawal treatment was extended at the Dublin District Family Court yesterday.

The social worker in the case spoke of how the baby was born addicted to phenobarbital, a sedative, and is gradually being weaned off the drug. The process is nearing its end but meanwhile the baby could be extremely irritable, crying a lot and needing extra feeding and holding.

The infant had spent weeks in hospital before being released to foster carers experienced in dealing with drug-addicted babies, the social worker told Judge Marie Quirke. And though he had been "very sick", he had since reached his developmental milestones.

The young parents had not visited the baby when he was in hospital, the court was told, but had since had access.

They both had been homeless and addicted to drugs, but had recently found hostel accommodation.

Paternity test

The social worker said the

Child and Family Agency

also had concerns about paternity. The mother had initially said her current partner was not the father, but now said he was. The agency had requested a DNA test, but he refused.

A solicitor for the couple questioned the agency’s motivation behind wanting a DNA test. He said the mother was now clear her partner was the father.

Judge Quirke said the baby was entitled to clarity and suggested the father should consider a DNA test.

She noted the couple accepted they were not in a position to care for the baby, and said the mother was suffering because of things that happened to her when she was a child.

She extended the interim care order for 28 days.

Abuse

In another case the judge granted a six-month supervision order for a child whose mother agreed to move to a women’s refuge.

The social worker in the case said the child had been known to the agency since birth and there were concerns about her safety, welfare and development. Under questioning from the mother’s solicitor, the social worker denied there had been “slips in the case” and “a number of balls had been dropped”.

The father’s representative denied emotional and physical abuse, but said his client accepted access visits had to be supervised. He was willing to do “whatever needs to be done”, the court was told.

Acrimonious relationship

Separately, the judge extended an interim care order for two teenagers. The social worker said their parents had an “acrimonious parental relationship” with “persistent conflict” and both parents were “unable to prioritise the needs of their children”.

The agency had hoped to make a full care order yesterday, until the boys were 18, but the father had withdrawn his consent.

The father, who was unrepresented, said he wanted permission to apply to the High Court to have “shared care” with the agency and asked that another judge, more familiar with the case, consider his application.

Judge Quirke extended the interim care order and set a date in July for a further hearing before another judge.