Judge rejects Italy bid to save Alfie
A DRAMATIC intervention by the Italian government in the battle to save severely ill toddler Alfie Evans failed last night.
It means that the 23-month-old will have his treatment withdrawn and be allowed to die. Mr Justice Hayden rejected an application by the Italian government for a seven-day delay so it could mount a full legal challenge, after Alfie was granted Italian citizenship yesterday.
Italian authorities supported Alfie’s parents Tom Evans and Kate James in their wish for him to be treated at the Bambino Gesu Hospital in Rome.
But the High Court judge said that although Alfie had been granted Italian citizenship, he is still a British citizen and has never lived in Italy.
He said he wanted to grant the toddler ‘finality with dignity’ and ruled that Alder Hey Hospital could continue their plan for end of life care including the withdrawal of treatment. The move came as a 200-strong crowd gathered outside the Liverpool hospital. Some even tried to force their way inside but were repelled by police.
The Italian move followed a visit last week by Alfie’s father Tom Evans to see Pope Francis and ask for his help.
The pontiff had even tweeted yesterday: ‘Moved by the prayers and immense solidarity shown [to] little Alfie Evans, I renew my appeal that the suffering of his parents may be heard and that their desire to seek new forms of treatment may be granted.’
But Mr Justice Hayden rejected the Italian appeal at a hearing last night.
Successive court hearings have heard that Alfie is in a ‘ semi-vegetative state’ and has a degenerative neurological condition which doctors have not definitively diagnosed.
Addressing several hundred supporters outside Alder Hey last night, Mr Evans claimed that allowing his son to die would be ‘a straight-up execution’.