P-K (Children)

Judgment Approved

Sir Ernest Ryder, Senior President:

This is an application for permission to appeal findings of fact made by His Honour Judge Orrell on 17 December 2009. The findings were made in public law children proceedings heard in the Derby County Court. The child concerned was born in 2009. The parties to the proceedings were the local authority applicant, Derby City Council, the child’s mother, the child’s father, the mother’s then partner and the child, by her children’s guardian.

The child concerned had been admitted to hospital on 5 June 2009 as a consequence of which medical investigations and examinations were conducted. The local authority issued care proceedings and alleged that the child had sustained injuries which were inflicted. Within the proceedings expert evidence was commissioned about the cause of the child’s injuries. The experts included Dr Stephen Chapman, consultant paediatric radiologist, Mr Peter Richards, consultant neurosurgeon, Dr Neil Stoodley, consultant neuroradiologist, and Dr Ian Mecrow, consultant paediatrician. Prior to the finding of fact hearing, the experts had answered various questions asked of them by the parties with the approval of the judge.

The hearing took place on 17 December 2009. The mother, her partner and the partner’s half-sister who was living in the household with them gave oral evidence. Evidence was also given by Dr Chapman. After Dr Chapman had given evidence the court adjourned to allow instructions to be taken. When the hearing resumed the judge released the remaining expert witnesses.

The judge in his judgment made the following findings:

“The brain injuries were non accidental and in all probability were inflicted during the night or early morning of the 4-5 June 2009 by shaking or shaking together with impact against a soft surface. These injuries were caused whilst [the child] was in the care of either the Mother or [her partner] or in the care of both of them.”

“The injuries to [the child’s] lower limbs are very likely to have been sustained on a single occasion and were caused either by [the child] being held by the calves or by being shaken. The evidence suggests that it is likely that the injuries to the brain and those to the lower limbs were sustained during the same incident. The injuries to the lower limbs were also non accidental and were sustained whilst [the child] was in the care of the Mother or [her partner] or in the care of both of them.”

The effect of