Concerns over supports available to mothers with intellectual disabilities who are struggling to care for their children have been highlighted in a new report on childcare cases.
The reports appear in the latest volume of the Child Care Law Reporting Project, established in 2012 to examine and report on cases before the family courts.
In one case, a District Court judge issued a care order for a young child whose mother had a mental age of eight. A social worker told the court the young woman lacked basic skills to provide a stable environment for the baby.
She was unable to tell the name of the baby, the court heard, and said it was written on a piece of paper.
The Child and Family Agency was opposed to the return of the child to her mother and father, on the basis that neither they nor their families were suitable carers.
The judge ordered that the child – who had been placed in care shortly after her birth – be placed in the care system until the age of 18.
Vulnerable mothers
Other cases documented raise questions as to what support was offered to vulnerable mothers prior to care proceedings being brought, and whether this support was tailored to the needs of individuals with cognitive disabilities.
Some of these cases involved people with both intellectual impairments and mental health problems. These posed particular challenges and highlighted the strain which mental health services were under, the report noted.
It also emerged in evidence that sometimes no cognitive assessment was carried out prior to a parenting assessment being conducted, even in cases where there were suspicions that a parent had an intellectual disability.
Violent father
The project also highlights the case of a girl from a Muslim family who asked to be placed in care to protect her from her father. Her father had beaten her, claiming she had “brought shame to the family”, and that her mother was unable to protect her.
A Garda sergeant gave evidence that the girl alleged she had been punched and kicked and suffered injuries to her head and hand.
The court heard the girl was “brave and resilient” and had a good relationship with her foster parents.
The social worker told the court the girl could only see her friends at school and was isolated and open to someone taking advantage of her.
“We fear the father may use the passport to bring her to [her home country] against her will. Both parents shunned her and made her feel ashamed and wouldn’t have any relationship with her,” she said.
