Authorities split family up after baby tragedy

THE DEATH of a newborn baby prompted social workers to take her older sibling away from their drug abusing parents. They removed the toddler from a house in Dumfries just hours after her younger sister died.

It’s understood she lost her fight for life shortly after her birth which was two months premature.

A social work source said: “The baby was born prematurely probably because of the mother’s drug addiction.

“We had major concerns over the safety of the other child given the condition of the parents and decided to ask the court for permission to take the child into care.”

The baby was born at Dumfries Infirmary at the end of June, where the mother is understood to have had an emergency caesarian section.

Both were airlifted to hospital in Glasgow where the infant died the following day.

That ignited fresh concerns over the older sibling and a decision was taken to ask a sheriff to sanction a Child Protection Order.

It allowed social workers, accompanied by police and sheriff officers, to remove the child, who is nearly two years old.

“The child is now safe,” added the source. “She was already on the child protection register and the death of the baby and the concerns over the parents left us with no other option.

“It’s tragic that the baby died but the most important thing was to ensure the safety of the other child.”

A police spokesman said there were no legal proceedings being invoked over the death of the baby.

However, it is thought that could change if social workers believe there is a legal case.

Detective Inspector Chris Johnstone of the family protection unit, said: “In a situation like this, we are asked to provide emergency information on the suitability of the living situation. That is used by social work along with other information to go to the local authority solicitor and the sheriff for a child protection order.

“There has to be a high risk of harm to the child to go through the process to get a sheriff to grant a child protection order to remove the child.

“The risk is not necessarily from the parents, it can come from other adults that have access to the child.

“Social work assess that risk and on this occasion, I believe, it led to a Child Protection Order.”

The council declined to make an official comment on the case.