An interim care order was extended by Dublin District court in respect of a child who had made very serious allegations of physical and sexual abuse. The court also lifted the in-camera rule to allow documents to be shared for a parental capacity assessment.
The Child and Family Agency (CFA) solicitor said the parents had always consented to the orders. The mother was present in court, but the father was not. The child was said to be doing very well. However, she had made very serious allegations of physical and sexual abuse, and the next steps involved An Garda Síochána. A parenting capacity assessment was underway. The father did not wish to engage in that assessment.
The CFA also sought an order lifting the in-camera rule so that relevant documents could be shared for the assessment. The social work team was due to meet the father to discuss the outcome of its investigation into the allegations. The school had also flagged issues arising from a previous foster placement, including concerns about food restriction. That matter remained under investigation.
The mother’s representative said the parents were still legally married but were no longer in a relationship. She sought one video access call per month, in addition to one in-person access visit per month.
The father’s representative said the father denied the allegations “fully and absolutely”. He had not yet been contacted by An Garda Síochána but was willing to engage with any investigation and to consent to anything required for the child’s care.
The guardian ad litem (GAL) supported the extension. His lawyer expressed concern about the nature of the parental relationship, notwithstanding the assertion that the relationship had ended. The child was described as ambivalent about contact with her mother and continued to make disclosures.
The judge noted that the application related to a child who was almost seven. Both parents were consenting to the application. She was satisfied that the threshold continued to be met and extended the interim care order. She also lifted the in-camera rule for the sharing of documents for the parental capacity assessment.