Our Alice Twaite attended a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in London today, where Mr Justice Williams approved the publication of a press release agreed between various of Olly’s family members, in the hope it will encourage his and his mum’s safe return. Alice’s attendance, alongside representatives of the mainstream media, was made possible through the ‘legal blogger’s pilot‘ scheme.
Our earlier post about this case (with link to the earlier press release) can be read here : Another runaway mum in the news – what’s the story?
We reproduce the full press release below. The release has been authorised for publication, but other restrictions on reporting remain. We hope to report more fully about the hearing in due course.
PRESS RELEASE:
The High Court today considered the case of toddler, Olly Sheridan, who has now been missing with his mum, Ellie Yarrow-Sanders, for more than six months.
The judge, Mr Justice Williams, said that he was gravely concerned that a child had been missing for so long and has made an appeal directly to Ellie to bring him back, promising to deal with her case fairly. The judge has appointed a senior social worker to act in the case to seek to promote Olly’s welfare, making it clear that this does not mean that there is any chance of Olly being placed in foster care.
Such are his concerns for Ellie and Olly’s welfare, Olly’s father, Patrick Sheridan, who only wants the return of his son, has agreed that if Olly is brought back by his mother before the next hearing, then he will not ask for Ellie or her mother, Donna, or sister, Maddie, to be punished for having any part in Olly’s disappearance.
Ellie’s mother and sister, who were both present at court and who spoke to the judge, fully support the judge’s appeal and are also urging Ellie to bring Olly back and to have confidence in the court process.
In a joint statement, Patrick, Donna and Maddie said, ‘We just want to know that Olly is safe and we plead for Ellie to return home as soon as possible. We all agree that Olly needs to come home to his normal life surrounded by family and friends.’
Any member of the public with any information which might help to find Olly is asked to contact Essex police on telephone number 101.
JUDICIAL OFFICE SOCIAL MEDIA RELEASE:
High Court Judge, Mr Justice Williams, and Ellie Yarrow-Sanders’ mother and sister make direct joint appeal to Ellie to bring missing toddler Olly home, with reassurances as to how she will be treated and given a voice in court. #comehomeolly
A senior social worker isn’t enough. Ellie needs a lawyer who can not only represent Ellie fairly, at a time where she desperately needs the help but one who can also EXPLAIN the process to her in such a way as to reassure her that the law IS there to put the child’s needs first. Until parents, who are alleging abuse from a partner, can be reassured of this fact, the family courts will continue to be treated with suspicion and decisions will continue to be made out of fear rather than fact.
It’s very easy to dismiss the comments that have been made in support of Ellie as
‘polarised thinking’ or as angry parents with a negative experience of the family court who simply don’t understand that the court really means well.
How many lawyers actually understand the level of fear experienced by parents when there are court proceedings- even when no abuse has been alleged?
How many lawyers understand the level of misinformation coming from the media, the internet, friends and family that can severely impact an already fearful person?
That level of misinformation should not simply be dismissed as an agenda when there is very little accurate and easily accessible information to take its place.
Your previous post was entitled ‘ Another Runaway Mum in the news’. These situations are very rare and yet the tabloid heading suggests otherwise and fuels the frenzied narrative.
How many lawyers understand that many parents summoned to court believe they COULD lose their child? Even if that is not the case? The family court needs to look at what fuels this fear.
This fear is, of course, intensified, if there is either no lawyer or one who is dismissive.
Ellie ran off and she was wrong to do so but until the law becomes better at clarifying the misinformation that feeds fear, and until lawyers understand that that fear will directly affect all decision making, she will not be the last to run.
Family court is abusive and not fit for purpose in any way. It routinely fails to prioritise the safety of children over forcing contact at any cost. There is an international body of research regarding this. Wake up.
Hi there, could you possibly post a link to this research please? Thanks, Annie
Sorry what LA have put me and my grandchildren through with lies currped behaviour totally avoid me with no regards to my grandchildren what so ever never in this world were or are my grandchildren or my self put first nore were there interest put or are put first any thing I say I can document what they say they can’t document unfortunately in this cruel currped country of what I’m ashamed to say is ours we have been stripped of legal aid and basically on repusentasion this going in to court room 2 solisters for LA you nowing notheing blind fighting for your life your family your grandchildren have no chance you and children are set to lose what other out come can there be set at a completely disivantage so I’ve lost my grandchildren I am law abiding completely no more if you can run and run far and wide unless you have a ward of money run because I tell you unless you have had unfortunately had to deal with theses horrible people that whould rarther lie lose your children than tell the truth you could never understand what you are dealing with.
Hi, I’ve taken your name out to protect your identity – Annie
To quote – ” this does not mean that there is any chance of Olly being placed in foster care”. One wonders what the average man or woman on the Clapham omnibus will make of this form of words, never mind an anxious very stressed mother. This is an example of poor drafting, failing to take account of the target readership.
Hi, thanks for your comment – I’m not sure what you mean by “Clapham omnibus” though? Annie
Man on the Clapham Omnibus = The archetypal reasonable man – McQuire v Western Morning News [1903] 2 K.B. 100 at 109 per Collins MR.
“The Clapham omnibus has many passengers. The most venerable is the reasonable man, who was born during the reign of Victoria but remains in vigorous health. Amongst the other passengers are the right-thinking member of society, familiar from the law of defamation, the officious bystander, the reasonable parent, the reasonable landlord, and the fair-minded and informed observer, all of whom have had season tickets for many years” – Healthcare at Home Limited v. The Common Services Agency [2014] UKSC 49 at [1]-[4] Lord Reed.
Judge Williams promises to deal with Olly’s case “fairly” thereby tacitly admitting that the majority of cases are dealt with unfairly and with scant regard to the best interests of the child(ren).
No sign of any evidence-based decision making in the “Family” Courts yet, no surprise given the lack of longitudinal studies into long-term private and public law case outcomes.
What’s the point in submitting comments when they are ignored! TRANSPARENCY- what does that exactly mean? I didn’t mention names, only put facts, have the evidence go back this up, that’s my understanding of transparency.
Margaret,
Although we don’t often edit comments, we do sometimes have to take a cautious approach where in our view there is a risk of identification of a child as a subject of proceedings, where we are unsure of any specific reporting restrictions or where there is a risk of some other legal problem such as defamation. I’m afraid our decision on such matters is final.
Lucy, Chair of The Transparency Project
Unfortunately those of us that work within certain charities know the justice system is far from fair. Its a sad fact that woman are let down on a daily basis and their children with them.