Boy who fell from drug-dependent mother’s arms must be placed for adoption

A boy removed from his mother’s care after she took the drug GHB must be placed for adoption, a High Court judge has ruled.

The woman had been seen “staggering around” with her son in her arms when he was about three months old while under the influence of GHB, Mr Justice Hayden heard.

A member of the public had flagged down a passing police van after seeing the youngster fall from her hands.

She told police that she had taken GHB at 10.30 in the morning – about 90 minutes before officers arrived.

Mr Justice Hayden said she had been given a police caution for child neglect and the little boy had been placed with a foster carer.

The woman wanted her son to return to her care but Mr Justice Hayden has concluded that there is no practical alternative to adoption.

Detail of the case has emerged in a written ruling published by the judge after a private hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London.

The judge ruled that the little boy could not be identified, but he said social services bosses at Islington Council in London had asked him to make a decision about the youngster’s future.

Mr Justice Hayden said the woman was highly motivated to care for her son and had made concerted attempts to address her drug dependency.

But the judge said the little boy could “easily have been killed”.

“He needs a stable, secure family life in which he can develop his potential,” said Mr Justice Hayden.

“I regret to say that I am entirely satisfied that there is no practical alternative to a plan for adoption.”

_{Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2017, All Rights Reserved.}