Injured child’s case to be reviewed after senior judges raise concern over outcome

A family court case centred on a child thought to have been injured by an adult caring for her is to be reviewed after senior judges raised concerns.

Doctors found around 20 bruises on the girl about a year ago, when she was two, and think her injuries were caused by “forceful grabbing”.

The youngster’s case has already been analysed by a family court judge.

But three Court of Appeal judges have now ordered a review.

They examined issues at a Court of Appeal hearing, at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, and have raised concern in a written ruling.

Lord Justice Patten, Lord Justice Floyd and Lord Justice Peter Jackson said “key agencies” responsible for the little girl’s welfare had not “acted correctly”; said council social services bosses had “pursued” family court proceedings in a “shambolic manner”; and said there had not been the “smallest increase in our understanding of how she was injured”.

They say another judge must oversee a fresh hearing.

The three appeal judges have not named the council involved in their ruling.

But they said the case had originally been analysed by Judge David Wicks at private family court hearings in Northampton.

Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2019, All Rights Reserved. Picture (c) Pixabay.