A v B

A v B

The court found the mother to be an unreliable witness who exaggerated and at times fabricated the children's medical conditions, causing them significant harm. The court rejected the mother's allegations of domestic and sexual abuse by the father, finding no objective or contemporaneous evidence to support them. The court found that the mother had alienated the children from the father and that the threshold for significant harm was met due to the mother's conduct.

Parties
Applicant Local Authority: A; First Respondent Mother: B; Second Respondent Father: B; Respondent Child: C; Fourth to Sixth Respondent Children: D, E, F
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
07 November 2022
Procedural Posture
Care Proceedings / Fact Finding Judgment
Outcome
Findings of fact made; threshold for significant harm met due to mother's conduct; allegations of abuse by father rejected.
Legal Topics
Care Orders, Parental Alienation, Fabricated or Induced Illness (fii), Domestic Abuse, Sexual Abuse Allegations, Fact Finding Hearings
Family Law Child Protection Care Orders Parental Alienation Fabricated or Induced Illness (fii) Domestic Abuse Sexual Abuse Allegations Fact Finding Hearings

Case Brief

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Parties

A

Applicant Local Authority

B

First Respondent Mother

B

Second Respondent Father

C

Respondent Child

D, E, F

Fourth to Sixth Respondent Children

Procedural Posture

Care Proceedings / Fact Finding Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the mother exaggerated or fabricated the children's medical conditions (FII)
  2. 2 Whether the father committed domestic abuse or sexual abuse against the mother or children
  3. 3 Whether the mother alienated the children from the father

Ratio Decidendi

The court found the mother to be an unreliable witness who exaggerated and at times fabricated the children's medical conditions, causing them significant harm. The court rejected the mother's allegations of domestic and sexual abuse by the father, finding no objective or contemporaneous evidence to support them. The court found that the mother had alienated the children from the father and that the threshold for significant harm was met due to the mother's conduct.

Court Disposition

Findings of fact made; threshold for significant harm met due to mother's conduct; allegations of abuse by father rejected.