A Local Authority v Mother & Ors

This judgment was handed down on 1 August 2025 by circulation to the parties or their representatives by e-mail at a hearing and by release to the National Archives

      This is the local authority's application for public law orders in respect of two children A a boy aged 4 and B a girl aged one. Proceedings were issued on 19 September 2024.� They are in week 45 which is significantly beyond the statutory 26 week period for proceedings to be concluded. The 26 week provision is there for good reason as delay is not in the interests of children.

      For the purpose of this final hearing, the local authority is represented by Ms Harris, the mother by Mr Douglas, the father of A by Ms El Nazer, the grandmother by Mr Pinhorn and the children by Ms Hunter through their guardian (taking over from the previous guardian who took over from the initial guardian). All parties have been extremely well represented and I am grateful to them all for their assistance.

      B's paternity remains unresolved. The mother put forward two putative fathers. One undertook DNA testing which was negative. The other is in prison and has refused to engage.

      By way of background, previous proceedings relating to A were issued in August 2023. During those proceedings, the mother and A went to a recovery centre whilst the mother was pregnant with B and then underwent a community-based assessment. A supervision order was made for 12 months in respect of A on 22 April 2024. The concerns related to drug use, mental health issues and domestic abuse. B was born at the end of the proceedings and was placed on a child protection plan.