Terminally ill Alfie now Italian citizen

Terminally ill toddler Alfie Evans has been granted Italian citizenship as his family continues to fight against the withdrawal of his life support.

The 23-month-old was granted citizenship by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday.

Parents Tom Evans and Kate James, both in their early 20s and from Liverpool, hope to take their son to a hospital in Rome for treatment.

The couple have already lost fights in the High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and ECHR.

Speaking outside Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, Mr Evans said: “I’m stood here now and Alfie is still here.

“Why? Because I’m still fighting for him, I’m still fighting and so is Alfie.

“I have been in touch with the Ambassador of Italy.

“My son belongs to Italy. I love Alfie and I love Kate, I will not give up.”

Pavel Stroilov from the Christian Legal Centre, which is representing the family, said: “Italy has just granted citizenship to Alfie and the Italian ambassador has urgently contacted the court with a request for the Italian government to be allowed to intervene in the case and seek the return of their citizen Alfie Evans to Italy.”

Earlier yesterday, supporters of the family attempted to storm Alder Hey Children’s Hospital after European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) judges refused to intervene in the case before police officers blocked their way.