Mother seeks return of her son after care order
A woman has filed a judicial protest against Aġenzija Appoġġ, pleading for the return of her nine-year-old son who was placed under a care order 13 months ago.
The woman, who is from Msida, said that her son was taken away because of an alleged once-only failure on her part. At the time, she said she was the victim of serious threats and was suffering extreme fear. Yet no care or assistance was offered to her, and the care order imposed for her son destroyed her emotionally.
Access to the boy had then been infrequent and under strict supervision.
The woman said that she had been able to overcome her problems and entered into a stable relationship, but Appogg still refused to lift the care order, on the pretext that the boy would then be living with a couple (his mother and her partner) who were not married. Yet the same boy (resident in a Home) was often left in the care of foster parents who themselves were not married.
The woman said that she had even ended her relationship so that Appoġġ would have no reason not to lift the care order. Yet the care order was still left in place.
Although the Home had made efforts to ease the anxiety and desperate sadness which the boy was suffering from, his situation had reached a point where he tried to commit suicide several times and was receiving psychiatric help in hospital.
Recently, the woman added, a meeting was held with Appogg with a view to having the boy returned to her, but Appoġġ then decided otherwise on the strength of an anonymous phone call. The woman said she had challenged Appoġġ to investigate the phone call, which, she said, was only meant to destroy her. But no investigation was carried out and instead, her access to the boy was reduced.
The woman said this situation was causing her and her son severe depression and anxiety.
She said she had warned Appoġġ of legal action several times and had been told that such action would remove any hope of reunion with her son. However she now had no choice and would not allow herself to be intimidated by such threats.
The woman therefore called on Appoġġ and the Minister for Family Affairs to immediately lift the care order and return her son home. She also held the agency and the minister responsible for damages.
Dr Stefano Filletti filed the judicial letter.
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37 Comments
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John Azzopoardi
Nov 27th 2012, 13:27
Hopefully the right resolution will come out of this after proper investigations.
Ramon Casha
Nov 26th 2012, 19:55
Care orders are always a sensitive issue. They cannot be decided purely on an emotional basis. The safety of the child is indeed paramount but one has to take into consideration the potential harm that comes from forced separation from the parents. It's also crucially important that the wishes of the child are taken into consideration. Ideally there should be an independent appraisal.
Reg Fitzpatrick
Nov 26th 2012, 19:11
I find it refreshing to see the reporting and commenting on this tragic case here in a healthy Maltese society.
If this had been in the UK, where thousands of much worse similar horrendous occurrences like this happen every year, the Social Services there (Appoġġ equivalent) would simply slap a D-Notice on it and no reporting or discussion of the case would be allowed at any stage.
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 26th 2012, 17:43
Apogg are doing well; if there are doubts on the mother then the child safety should have first preference!!
Ruth Micallef
Nov 26th 2012, 17:13
The only thing that matters here is that our Courts do not fail the child and make sure that the outcome is what is really best for the boy's well-being... and this may not necessary be what the mother wants. After all, care orders are not lightly imposed.
C Muscat
Nov 26th 2012, 16:44
What does Appogg need to enlighten us about this case and their work in general?
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 26th 2012, 17:42
Why don't you reflect on all the good done by Appogg rather then judge them on a single case where most probably you only know 1% of the story based on what was reported!!
Franco Farrugia
Nov 26th 2012, 16:42
There is one thing of which I am sure: Appogg has so few fostering places that I am confident that it did not take this decision lightly. But I don't know the facts so I keep my trap shut!
Franco Farrugia
Nov 26th 2012, 16:41
Do you know the facts surrounding this case? NO! So, before putting disgustingly-stupid comments in public, you should know all the details of the case!
Ms. P.M Graham
Nov 26th 2012, 16:10
If Appogg hadn't taken this call seriously and something had happened to the child, the many comments below would have been condemning them for NOT taking action.
It always amazes me how so many can be Judge and Jury with so little information, more so where a child is involved.
Social Workers are damned if they do and damned if they don't.
A sad story indeed, for all involved.
Claire Bezzina
Nov 26th 2012, 15:54
such a sad story....when i had to personally deal with appogg i found them very unhelpful...my concerns were not taken seriously....
S Farrugia
Nov 26th 2012, 15:27
A sad story indeed.
Steve Demicoli
Nov 26th 2012, 15:04
Somehow nothing surprises me coming from so-called 'Appogg' - I've seen similarly inappropriate situations (strong with the weak and weak with the strong) in the way Appogg deals with people who are receiving help from mental health services
Victor Pulis
Nov 26th 2012, 15:00
I do not know the case and I will limit my comment to just one point. Since when is an anonymous phone call used to overturn a decision about to be taken?
twanny borg
Nov 26th 2012, 14:32
wiehed irid jisma l-qampiena l-ohra pero tajjeb li l-appogg ikollhom maghhom impjegati mizzewga li rabbew it-tfal u jkunu jafu x'jigifieri. tfal mehudin minn ommom jista' jkun ta' hsara kbira ghailhom. kultant il-problemi familjari jissolver wahidhom biz-zmien. kemm huwa importanti li kazijiet bhal dawn jigu solvuti malajr.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Nov 26th 2012, 14:21
What a sad story. Sadder still, if this is true, that Appogg refuses to send him home because his mother is living with a man who is not her busband. This is the effect of medieval thinking, as we have seen recently with those supporting Tonio Borg's bid. They deem themselves oh so holy - but could not care less about the harm they cause others.
Peter Bonello
Nov 26th 2012, 14:20
i think the boy should be returned and the situation should be monitored, and if needed help the family! we need to help these people not destroy them!
B Attard
Nov 26th 2012, 14:18
...but Appoġġ then decided otherwise on the strength of an anonymous phone call.
Could be this is foul play... ? cause lately i've been hearing so many horrible stories were children are concerned that makes one raise his eyebrows, Hope there will be a serious investigtion ,,, but ,,,,
Antoine Zammit
Nov 26th 2012, 14:17
the sun may be shining for Gonzi and clique..BUT there are still people who rain or shine live in the shadows, and the state, as per law, has the duty to safeguard, true adequate service, and an efficient and fair judicial system. Unfortunately cases like this there are in the thousands, and let state the truth and pledge to REALLY better the situation of those in difficulty - am saying this to bo
Martin Saliba
Nov 26th 2012, 14:11
Through peronal experience i found that appogg can do more harm than good especially when you have an " Expert " who is dealing with a case when he / she has been through a similar experience . It just might be that they do to others what they would have wished to do in their own personal case .
A. Farrugia
Nov 26th 2012, 14:08
Good Lord - how many premature comments are being written here... as if the Government were to take out a Care Order willy nilly... qas li m'ghandhomx x'jaghmlu!
Isn't it obvious that this is only the mother's version of the story being told here? I haven't any idea who this mother is, but that 'anonymous phone call' could have come from a member of her own family who wanted to remain anonymous!
twanny borg
Nov 26th 2012, 14:37
veru li forsi t-telefonata giet minn xi familjari pero tista' tkun giet minn xi hadd li l-intenzjoni tieghu li jivvendika ruhu fuq xi haga. peress li ma hawnx min mohhu f'hekk!!
Martin Saliba
Nov 26th 2012, 15:05
Or it could have come from .................................................
Carmelo Aquilina
Nov 26th 2012, 13:59
we are only hearing one side of the story - let the court decide before our child care experts writing here pronounce !
George Busuttil
Nov 26th 2012, 13:49
A very sad story. Institutionalising the boy will harm him for ever. He should be returned to his mother and the situation monitored closely.
Tarcisio Bonello
Nov 26th 2012, 13:43
What a Shame - This case looks as if it comes out of a horror story. How can a one time offender end up losing her only child to foster care ????? The case should be investigated by the Ombudsman and should there be a smell of foul play, proper disciplinary action taken against appogg and the employees involved.
Joseph Cauchi Senior
Nov 26th 2012, 13:38
Let’s only hope that whatever decision is taken is only for the benefit of the child!
If this boy is suffering from such extreme anxiety, then Appogg should do all it can to help and cure this boy!
And any decision if the boy should join his parent should be left to the authorities concerned.
The well-being of the child is of the utmost priority!
JC.
M Abdilla
Nov 26th 2012, 13:38
This is shameful ... it is evident the child needs his mother
Franco Farrugia
Nov 26th 2012, 16:39
Are you sure of that?
Ruth Micallef
Nov 26th 2012, 17:16
it can very well be a case where nature takes over where nature has failed.
Ruth Micallef
Nov 27th 2012, 14:13
it can very well be a case where NURTURE takes over... where nature has failed
paul camilleri
Nov 26th 2012, 13:37
why is this allowed to happen, appogg! some appogg cant you see that you are and have ruined both these people lives, instead of helping them!! and who is it that you listen to when they call you anonymously that you refute the mothers plea?
Franco Farrugia
Nov 26th 2012, 16:39
What do you know about the case? Are you sure that you know all the facts or are you just blurting things out as usual?
R. D'Emanuele
Nov 26th 2012, 13:34
naf b' kas iehor simili ta din is-sinjura.... tal-misthija....
B Ellul
Nov 26th 2012, 13:32
'alleged once-only failure on her part'...nahseb hadu din id-decizjoni fuq darba wahda!
C Muscat
Nov 26th 2012, 13:28
How sad!! How pathetic our support service.. it is so shameful!!!
Franco Farrugia
Nov 26th 2012, 16:38
Wouldn't it be far better for you to check facts before you start blurting out inanities? Do you know the whole story? I don't. Neither do you. One thing I can say: there are so few and limited places of fostering in the country that I am confident that Appogg did not take things lightly in issuing a care notice! So, again, be careful how and when to write.
Please choose the reason of your report below: