The Dublin District Court made a care order until the age of 18 for an infant girl whose mother had addiction issues. The mother was not in court and not represented.
The girl’s mother has addiction issues. She used drugs while pregnant and the girl was born with substance abuse symptoms. She also has an issue with her ear that did not appear to impact her hearing, however she was referred to a specialist as a precaution. In addition, the soft spot on her head was still open. The social worker said that if the soft spot had not closed by the time the girl was 18 months old then she would be referred to a specialist.
The girl was taken into care when she was seven months old. The Child and Family Agency (CFA) had concerns about the mother’s substance misuse and parental capacity as well as domestic violence. The mother had five children, all of whom were taken into care. Two have aged out of care with three of her children currently in care. The guardian ad litem (GAL) said that the girl’s siblings had contact with each other therefore it would be beneficial for the girl to start having contact with her siblings as part of her life story.
The CFA had attempted to engage with the mother. At one point the mother acknowledged that she was not able to care for her child and that she wanted what was best for her. The mother subsequently disengaged altogether, and the CFA had had no contact with her for the past several months.
The girl was placed with a family friend who had cared for her since she entered care. The carers doted on the little girl and were proactive in their engagement with the CFA. The GAL also said that the carers were supportive of the girl having contact with her other siblings.
The judge granted the care order and directed that if there was any change in the child’s placement then the case must be re-entered before the court.