In the matter of ZZ (Care proceedings) 25-Jan-2021

On 16 th November 2020, the Court granted the Applicant ("the Minister") a supervision order in respect of ZZ ("the Child"), who is now eight years of age, and a residence order in favour of her maternal grandmother, C ("the Maternal Grandmother"), with whom the Child had been living since October, 2019. These orders were made with the consent of A ("the Mother") who remains actively involved in the Child's life.

B ("the Father") had not engaged with the process and had no involvement in the Child's life. The Court was satisfied that the Father had been served with the application of the Minister and was aware of the date of the hearing. In the circumstances, the Court resolved to continue with the proceedings in his absence pursuant to Rule 17 of the Children Rules 2005 .

The threshold document prepared for these proceedings recites that since the previous proceedings, the Mother had lapsed into serious alcohol misuse, to which the Child has been exposed, and continued to form inappropriate relationships. On the 3 rd October 2019 the former social worker made a home visit and found the Mother under the influence of alcohol or drugs and acting bizarrely. Subsequently the Child went to stay with the Maternal Grandmother where she has remained ever since.

In her report of 13 th January 2020, Dr Tanya Engelbrecht, a consultant psychiatrist, said this at paragraph 14.68:

"She (the mother) has a history of superficial engagement and sometimes disguised compliance with services. She verbalises a wish to engage in services, but in reality her engagement can be short lived. In spite of intensive support from a range of services over time, [the Mother] persisted in choosing a lifestyle which is detrimental to her daughter's welfare and development."