C, M and R
| Jurisdiction | Northern Ireland |
| Judge | Her Honour Judge Smyth |
| Judgment Date | 2013 |
| Neutral Citation | [2013] NICty 9 |
| Court | County Court (Northern Ireland) |
| Date | 26 November 2013 |
Neutral Citation No [2013] NICty 9
Ref:
Judgment: approved by the Court for handing down
Delivered: 26/11/13
(subject to editorial corrections)*
In the Family Care Centre sitting in Belfast
In the matter of C, M and R
Her Honour Judge Patricia Smyth
Introduction
1. This is an application for care orders in respect of C who was born on the 6th June
1999 and is now aged 14 years, M who was born on the 21st February 2001 and is
now aged 12 and R who was born on the 29th March 2004 and is now aged 9.
2. All three children have specific needs. C is diagnosed as having a moderate learning
disability and is academically 1 year behind her peers in school. M has diagnoses of
severe learning disability; Dysmorphic Syndrome; faltering growth; Chronic Serious
Otitis Media (recurrent inner ear infection) and challenging behaviour. M requires
adult support and supervision for all aspects of her personal care and safety. The
level of care required by her is compared to that of a baby. R has diagnoses of severe
learning disability, Downs Syndrome and challenging behaviour. R requires adult
supervision for all aspects of his personal care and safety, and his care needs have
been described as those of a young child.
The Background
3. The parents were married and thus share parental responsibility. They separated in
and around 2007, and from that date the mother was the sole carer of the children.
The father did not have contact with the children until approximately October 2011,
when contact was re-established with C, who was then aged 12 years old. It is
accepted by both parents that their relationship was marred by serious domestic
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