LM (A Child)

Shaun Spencer (instructed by Ms Withers, Local Authority Legal Department) for the Applicant Daniel Dodd (instructed by Ms Moss of the Russell and Russell Solicitors) for the First Respondent Fiona Jamieson (instructed by Ms Sherrington of GHP Legal) for the Second Respondent Simon Povoas (instructed by Ms Hetherington of McAllister Family Law Solicitors) for the Third Respondent Hearing dates: 28th March � 1st April, and 5th April, ____________________

This judgment was delivered in private. The judge has given leave for this version of the judgment to be published on condition that (irrespective of what is contained in the judgment) in any published version of the judgment the anonymity of the children and members of their family must be strictly preserved. All persons, including representatives of the media, must ensure that this condition is strictly complied with. Failure to do so will be a contempt of court.

F, as M is acutely aware, has had a comfortable and secure upbringing which has afforded him a social veneer which masks this low level of function.

I noticed that even with very simple questions, F sometimes struggled, and I have kept in mind Dr Allen's helpful guidance, in particular:

The records reveal no mention of a cyst. There was not a cyst nor was there an appointment with a paediatrician on the 1 st April. I have little difficulty in concluding that all this is an example of M's exaggeration/fabrication of her daughter's health.