A (A Child) v A Local Authority (Rev 2)

(DAR Transcript of WordWave International Limited A Merrill Communications Company 165 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2DY Tel No: 020 7404 1400 Fax No: 020 7831 8838 Official Shorthand Writers to the Court)

Ms Sally Bradley QC & Ms Catherine Mason (instructed by Davis Gore Lomax Solicitors) appeared on behalf of the Claimant. Ms Sarah Singleton QC, Mr Guy Swiffen, Ms Clare Garnham (instructed by A Local Authority, Godloves Solicitors) appeared on behalf of the Respondent Local Authority. ____________________

He identified them as: 1) Ms�M's understanding of the risks posed to her in the context of domestic violence; 2) her use of recreational drugs and, 3) her ability to be open and honest with and co-operate with professionals charged with the welfare of the child. It was the third of those factors which obviously caused the judge the greatest concern for he went on to say in the following paragraph:

That led him paragraph�169 to address what he describe as a key issue. He put it thus:

LORD JUSTICE THORPE: I would most firmly associate myself with My Lord's observations and I hope that the removal that follows from the dismissal of the appeal will be handled in a sensitive way and that real efforts will be made to offer generous contact in the period which is regrettably extended because we are looking at something like six months before there will be another profound investigation. No doubt you can discuss that amongst yourselves.