A (A Child)

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.

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During the course of this hearing I heard oral evidence from James Holdsworth (A�s current social worker), from Joe Robson (A�s social worker at the time of his birth and who has had an ongoing involvement in a different capacity since that time), from M, F, PGM and MGM and, finally, from the CG.

There is a lengthy and complex background to the proceedings as well as numerous significant developments during the course of them.� There are many factual disputes between the parties.� It is not, of course, necessary to resolve every factual dispute, only those which are relevant to my determination of the welfare issues in respect of A and where the evidence is sufficient to make a factual determination.� In relation to all factual issues, it is for the party making an allegation to prove it.� I determine all factual disputes on the simple balance of probabilities.

Both parents admit that they have told lies.� Insofar as it is either admitted or I find that a person has lied about something, I have taken account of the fact that lies may be told for many different reasons, such as shame, misplaced loyalty, panic, fear and distress.� I have cautioned myself against an assumption that a lie about one aspect of the case renders evidence from the same person unreliable or untrue.� I have, in essence, given myself a Lucas direction.