C (Minors): CA 19 Dec 1997

A court had made an order freeing three siblings for adoption together. The parents accepted that this was inevitable for the two older but not for the third, who was a few months old. An emergency protection order had been obtained on the birth of the last child. The mother suffered depression which was likely to require long term treatment. No order had been made for a further period of assessment.
Held: The need for a decision was pressing. There was some need, and the appeal court could not say the decision at first instance was plainly wrong. Appeal dismissed.

Judges:

Lady Justice Butler-Sloss, Lord Justice Henry

Citations:

[1997] EWCA Civ 3056

Statutes:

Children Act 1989 31

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Children, Adoption

Updated: 13 November 2022; Ref: scu.143455