Four brothers and sisters had been adopted after the parents had been found to have abused them. The parents now had expert evidence that the injuries may have been the result of scurvy, and sought leave to appeal.
Held: Leave was refused. Cases involving the reversal of adoptions in the past had been brought far sooner after the event than this, and arose from procedural errors resulting in an unfairness. Here, though expert opinion now pointed in a different direction, the decisions had been made honestly and responsibly. It was no longer possible to reverse the decisions.
[2009] EWCA Civ 59
Bailii
European Convention on Human Rights 8, Adoption and Children Act 2002 67(1)
England and Wales
Citing:
Cited – Ladd v Marshall CA 29-Nov-1954
Conditions for new evidence on appeal
At the trial, the wife of the appellant’s opponent said she had forgotten certain events. After the trial she began divorce proceedings, and informed the appellant that she now remembered. He sought either to appeal admitting fresh evidence, or for . .
Cited – In Re F (R) (An Infant) 1970
An adoption order was set aside for an irregularity. . .
Cited – Carson and Others v The United Kingdom ECHR 4-Nov-2008
(Grand Chamber) Pensioners who had moved abroad complained that they had been excluded from the index-linked uprating of pensions given to pensioners living in England.
Held: This was not an infringement of their human rights. Differences in . .
Cited – Norfolk County Council v The Parents and BC (By her Child’s Guardian) FD 29-Jun-2007
. .
Cited – Cases of Pini And Bertani And Manera And Atripaldi v Romania ECHR 22-Jun-2004
The making of an adoption order was sufficient to establish an Article 8 right to respect for family life notwithstanding the fact that the children had never moved to live with the adopters. Protection of the right to family life pre-supposes the . .
Cited – Re RA (Minors) 1974
An adoption order was set aside for a procedural irregularity. . .
Cited – Aiden Shipping Co Ltd v Interbulk Ltd (The ‘Vimeira’) HL 1986
Wide Application of Costs Against Third Party
A claim had been made against charterers by the ship owners, and in turn by the charterers against their sub-charterers. Notice of motion were issued after arbitration awards were not accepted. When heard, costs awards were made, which were now . .
Cited – Re Webster (A Minor) FD 23-Feb-2007
. .
Cited – Re H (Freeing Orders: Publicity) CA 2005
Wall LJ said: ‘Cases involving children are currently heard in private in order to protect the anonymity of the children concerned. However, the exclusion of the public from family courts, and the lack of knowledge about what happens in them, easily . .
Cited – Norfolk County Council v Webster and others FD 17-Nov-2006
There had been care proceedings following allegations of physical child abuse. There had been a residential assessment. The professionals accepted the parents’ commitment to their son, but also found that they were unreliable. It was recommended . .
Cited – Re S (Minors)(Care Order: Appeal); Dyfed County Council v S, Re S (Discharge of Care Order) CA 6-Sep-1995
Discharge of care order is the appropriate procedure not an appeal after very long time. The court considered its approach in admitting new evidence on appeal in family law cases: ‘The willingness of the family jurisdiction to relax the ordinary . .
Cited – In re H and R (Minors) (Child Sexual Abuse: Standard of Proof) HL 14-Dec-1995
Evidence allowed – Care Application after Abuse
Children had made allegations of serious sexual abuse against their step-father. He was acquitted at trial, but the local authority went ahead with care proceedings. The parents appealed against a finding that a likely risk to the children had still . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.
Adoption, Human Rights
Updated: 01 November 2021; Ref: scu.282608