Group defends stance on baby Alfie

A Christian group representing the parents of terminally-ill child Alfie Evans has hit back at “unfair” and “detrimental” criticism.

The Christian Legal Centre (CLC) has represented Alfie’s parents, Tom Evans and Kate James, since the beginning of April as they have continued with legal battles to prevent his life support treatment being withdrawn at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.

Since treatment was withdrawn on Monday evening, Mr Evans, 21, and Ms James, 20, have had bids to take the child to Italy rejected by the High Court and the Court of Appeal and have since agreed to work

“We reject the prejudicial and inflammatory comments”

with doctors in the hope of taking Alfie, aged 23 months, home.

High Court judge Mr Justice Hayden criticised the “malign hand” of law student Pavel Stroilov, linked to the CLC, after the court heard he had been party to Mr Evans lodging a private prosecution of hospital doctors, allegedly for murder.

But CLC chief executive Andrea Williams, who said the CLC had acted pro bono for the family, said the organisation did not support the criminal prosecution of doctors involved in Alfie’s care.

In a statement released yesterday, she said: “In recent days, in addition to significant support we have endured some media and judicial criticism. We consider this unfair and detrimental. We reject the prejudicial and inflammatory comments made by Mr Justice Hayden.

“We also reject the portrayal by the Court of Appeal of our role in this case and the assistance that we have offered to Mr Evans.”