PARENTS CLEARED, BUT STILL LOSE CHILD

Readers will be appalled at the news that a couple, cleared of allegedly injuring their baby child, may never see him or her again as the child had been adopted prior to their acquittal (report, 8 October).

In such a case surely consideration for the welfare of the child should have involved waiting for the outcome of the trial before seeking the Family Court’s approval for the child to be adopted. Moreover, it is truly outrageous, if true, that the couple were refused legal aid to fight the adoption.

If a death occurs that requires a coroner’s inquest and there is a concurrent police investigation or possible criminal trial, the inquest is adjourned so as not to prejudice the outcome of any such trial. Surely the same principle should apply when a child is taken into care following an allegation of abuse?

A further matter of concern in this case, not explained in your report, is why the criminal case took so long to get to court. You report that it was three years ago when the child, then a six-week-old baby, was taken to hospital by the parents and that “a few days later” they were charged with child cruelty. It was the criminal case that should have been fasttracked, not the adoption proceedings. It may be that there was a good reason for the three-year delay, but the Crown Prosecution Service should be required to explain it. David Lamming

Boxford, Suffolk