Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 2831Adoption (civil – adoption order without parental consent)

High Court orders adoption of 17-year-old girl without birth parents' consent

The High Court granted Tusla's application to adopt a 17-year-old girl in foster care without the consent of her birth parents, who had maintained supervised contact over more than a decade. Ms Justice Nuala Jackson found the girl's wishes and best interests favoured the adoption order, overbearing the curtailed participation of the birth parents.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court29 Nov
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe girl went into long-term care over a decade ago. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe birth father's access hours were reduced when the girl went to secondary school. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatBoth birth parents expressly rejected the suggestion that they abandoned their child. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe girl's biggest fear is that the adoption will not occur. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe birth mother said she does not understand why adoption was necessary as the girl was approaching majority and had no special needs. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe birth parents experienced considerable difficulties and had voluntarily placed their daughter in care. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe girl went into long-term care more than a decade ago. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe High Court granted Tusla's application to have the 17-year-old girl adopted without the consent of her birth parents. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe High Court granted Tusla's application to adopt a 17-year-old girl without the consent of her birth parents. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe judge found the girl's wishes and best interests favoured the adoption order over the curtailed participation of the birth parents. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe birth parents maintained contact through supervised access visits over the years. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe birth father said his access hours were reduced when the girl went to secondary school. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe girl told the social care worker that her biggest fear was that the adoption would not occur. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThere had been a lack of engagement by the birth parents in assessments and therapeutic recommendations. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe foster carer assured the court they will support and encourage the girl to maintain a relationship with her birth parents. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 30 Nov2024
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    High Court orders adoption of teenage girl without birth parents' consent

    Reports the High Court's ex-tempore judgment granting the adoption order, including the birth parents' affidavits rejecting abandonment and the girl's stated fear that the adoption would not occur.

    victim, 17, femalesuspect, femalesuspect, male
  2. 29 Nov2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    High Court orders adoption of teen without consent of her birth parents

    Reports the High Court's adoption order and the reasoning of Ms Justice Jackson, including the birth parents' affidavits, the girl's expressed wishes, and the foster carer's assurances.

    victim, 17, femalesuspect, femalesuspect, male