Troubled girl will be under supervision while she gives birth

A vulnerable 15-year-old girl who is pregnant by an older man and due to give birth shortly is to be put under 24hour supervision by social workers while in hospital having her baby, the High Court heard yesterday.

After giving birth, the girl will be housed for three weeks in the staff quarters of a secure unit for out-of-control teenage girls, and her situation will then be reviewed by the court.

The health board in whose care the girl is placed is to apply for an order exercising care and control regarding the baby but said this would be executed in a situation where the baby remained with its mother.

Mr Justice Kelly, who had expressed reservations, yesterday approved revised proposals regarding the girl's detention in hospital and a secure unit and made the relevant orders. He thanked staff of the secure unit who gave up a staff bedroom and altered rostering systems to facilitate her.

His reservations were related to the girl's history of absconding and his concerns for her welfare and particularly for the welfare, even life, of her child. He was satisfied with the revised arrangements.

He granted an interim injunction restraining the father of the baby, who is in his 20s and in prison for offences unconnected with the pregnancy, from making contact with the girl or her child. The man may apply to the court to vary or alter that injunction.

The girl comes from a family background described by the judge as "atrocious". Her teenage brother is also in care and other children in the family are under the supervision of the health board. The girl has a history of absconding and became pregnant after she escaped from a high-support unit.

In evidence yesterday, a social worker said the girl's preferred option, and that of her parents, was that she be housed in a flat with her child near her family home, but the board had serious concerns about any such plan.

This was a young mother who was very vulnerable, the social worker said. The girl was anxious to keep her baby, and the board wanted to facilitate her in doing so.