Father pleads with court for access to baby who was born with drugs in her system

A FATHER serving a jail sentence pleaded with the District Court for some measure of access to his child who was born with drugs in her system in 2015.

The man was brought from prison to the court sitting in Gorey where he formally opposed the extension of an interim care order.

The child was taken into care immediately following birth after authorities learned that the mother had been taking heroin.

Methadone and morphine were found in her system and she was placed with foster carers.

Judge John Cheatle was in- formed that the mother has since made good progress in dealing with her addiction.

She was now allowed unsupervised access to the child one day each week, though the care order remained in place.

She had no objection to the order being extended by the court to September on similar terms but her husband opposed such a lengthy extension.

‘I am agreeing to nothing until I see my kids,’ he declared.

He explained that he had never seen the child’s older sibling who is also in care and he wanted to see the baby.

The mother indicated that she was unwilling to bring children to the prison until her partner provided clear urinalysis reports.

The man revealed that the couple intended to divorce, a move which came as a surprise to Child and Family Support Agency officials.

A social worker from the agency then said they were willing to liaise between the child’s foster carers and the prison service to arrange access visits once every six weeks.

An extension of the care order was granted by Judge Cheatle until February 8.