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BreakingNews.ie
a day ago
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Child agency criticised for 'wholly unsatisfactory' response to court orders
A High Court judge has described the Child and Family Agency's attitude to judicial orders as 'incomprehensible and wholly unsatisfactory". Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds criticised the State agency responsible for the protection and welfare of children in Ireland after hearing that it had failed to comply with the suggestions of two District Court judges with regard to the care of a child. Advertisement Judge Reynolds heard that recommendations by both judges regarding the care of a teenager at risk of death by his own hand and a danger to others had been totally ignored by Tusla. 'This is an extremely vulnerable young person whose medical history speaks for itself,' Judge Reynolds told barrister Donal O Muircheartaigh, counsel for the child's legal guardian Mr O Muircheartaigh, who appeared with David McCoy of McCoy Solicitors, had outlined the teenager's difficult early childhood recalling that he had been in seven different placements prior to his current placement having been secured for him in June 2024. He said this placement had come to an end today Friday and the boy was being moved to a centre that both his guardian and the District Court had only yesterday, Thursday, raised concerns about. Advertisement Mr O MuircheartaighI detailed previous very serious reports from the boy's treating medical experts which had highlighted the high risk of death from suicide and pointed out to Judge Reynolds that special care had been specifically prescribed for him. Counsel went through 'the chaotic recent few weeks' where the direction of a District Court judge for a special care referral had initially been ignored and cited two District Court judges' recent concern at the breadth of the risk laid bare in professional reports and particularly one judge's view that he had never seen a report as concerning to the District Court. Mr O Muircheartaigh told Judge Reynolds that in light of the fact that the Child Family Agency did not seem to attach much weight to District Court orders, it was necessary to have the heft of the High Court's oversight to see if a more expeditious and timely change for the teenager could be arranged. 'It is important to bring this particular to the Croke Park of courts as opposed to the regional grounds where change is not occurring fast enough,' counsel said. Advertisement The court queried the current state of affairs on the 'no beds list' as monitored by the High Court and Mr O Muircheartaigh said there were currently 26 physical beds in special care with a capacity to staff only 15 of them. Ireland Dublin pensioner charged with harassing financial... Read More There were four children on the list who had an order registered against them that they require the safety and security of special care but had not been allocated a bed. They were also very serious cases. Judge Reynolds said it was hard to find a more apt case for special care and returned the proceedings to August 20th directing that the matter was of such urgency, because of the potential detriment to the child, that it could be re-entered before that date on notice to Tusla. The judge directed that the Child Family Agency be notified immediately of her directions and asked that the Agency be informed that she was astonished to note its failure to comply with a judicial direction A District Court judge recently condemned Tusla's handling of its duty and obligations toward children in its care and described such practice as 'shocking and appalling.'
RNZ News
02-08-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
UK defends new online safety law after criticism
Under the new UK law, online platforms must take steps to prevent children accessing harmful content. Photo: 123RF The UK government on Saturday defended a new online safety law following harsh criticism from social network X, saying it was "demonstrably false" that it "compromises free speech". Under the law, which took effect on 25 July, online platforms must take steps to prevent children accessing harmful content such as pornography. But X said Friday that "the act's laudable intentions are at risk of being overshadowed by the breadth of its regulatory reach". "Without a more balanced, collaborative approach, free speech will suffer," added the platform, formerly known as Twitter, saying regulators had taken a "heavy-handed approach". "When lawmakers approved these measures, they made a conscientious decision to increase censorship in the name of 'online safety'," added the platform, owned by billionaire Elon Musk. The government countered that it was "demonstrably false that the Online Safety Act compromises free speech". "As well as legal duties to keep children safe, the very same law places clear and unequivocal duties on platforms to protect freedom of expression," said a spokesperson. The law "does not require platforms to age gate any content other than those which present the most serious risks to children such as pornography or suicide and self-harm content", said the government, adding "platforms have had several months to prepare". In the event of non-compliance, platforms are liable to fines of up to £18 million (NZ$40m), or 10 percent of their global turnover, whichever is higher. - AFP
The Guardian
01-08-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
UK Online Safety Act risks ‘seriously infringing' free speech, says X
Elon Musk's X platform has said the UK's Online Safety Act (OSA) is at risk of 'seriously infringing' free speech as a row deepens over measures for protecting children from harmful content. The social media company said the act's 'laudable' intentions were being overshadowed by its aggressive implementation by the communications watchdog, Ofcom. In a statement posted on the platform, X said: 'Many are now concerned that a plan ostensibly intended to keep children safe is at risk of seriously infringing on the public's right to free expression.' It added that the risk was not a surprise to the UK government because by passing the OSA, lawmakers had made a 'conscientious decision' to increase censorship in the name of 'online safety'. 'It is fair to ask if UK citizens were equally aware of the trade-off being made,' said the statement. The act, a bugbear of the political right on both sides of the Atlantic, has come under renewed scrutiny after new restrictions on under-18s accessing pornography and viewing content harmful to children came into force on 25 July. Musk, X's owner, said days after the rules came into force that the act's purpose was 'suppression of the people'. He also retweeted a petition calling for repeal of the act that has garnered more than 450,000 signatures. X has been forced to age-restrict some content as a consequence, with the Reform UK party adding to the furore by pledging to repeal the act. Reform's commitment prompted the UK technology secretary, Peter Kyle, to accuse Nigel Farage of siding with paedophile Jimmy Savile, a comment Farage described as 'so below the belt' and deserving of an apology. Referring to Ofcom, X said regulators had taken a 'heavy-handed approach' to enforcing the act by 'rapidly increasing enforcement resources' and 'adding layers of bureaucratic oversight'. The statement said: 'The act's laudable intentions are at risk of being overshadowed by the breadth of its regulatory reach. Without a more balanced, collaborative approach, free speech will suffer.' X said it was compliant with the act but the threat of enforcement and fines – which in the case of social media platforms such as X could be as high as 10% of global turnover – could encourage censorship of legitimate content in order to avoid punishment. The statement also mentioned plans to create a national internet intelligence investigations team to monitor social media for signs of anti-migrant disorder. X said the proposal may be positioned as a safety measures but 'it clearly goes far beyond that intent'. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion It said: 'This move has set off alarm bells for free speech advocates who characterise it as excessive and potentially restrictive. A balanced approach is the only way to protect individual liberties, encourage innovation and safeguard children.' A spokesperson for Ofcom said the OSA contained provisions protecting freedom of speech. They said: 'The new rules require tech firms to tackle criminal content and prevent children from seeing defined types of material that's harmful to them. There is no requirement on them to restrict legal content for adult users. In fact, they must carefully consider how they protect users' rights to freedom of expression while keeping their users safe.' The UK's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has been approached for comment.
The South African
31-07-2025
- The South African
Joburg mom faces steeper charges after child-drug video goes viral
A Johannesburg mother and three others accused of encouraging a three-year-old to use drugs are facing attempted murder charges, in addition to child abuse. They appeared in the Johannesburg Regional Court on Thursday, 31 July. However, the case has been postponed to Monday, 4 August. The video of the child being given drugs to smoke has circulated widely and sparked public outrage. Authorities have since removed the child from the home and placed him in a place of safety. The Johannesburg Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences unit (FCS) commander Lieutenant Colonel Marema Mogale and his team responded immediately to the case at about midnight. However, it is alleged that another FCS member was called and then told the complainant that they would deal with it in the morning. These allegations have been brought to the attention of the Gauteng head of FCS, Brigadier Phumzile Zulu, and are expected to be formally investigated. The FCS requires its members to be available after hours to attend to such cases. Gauteng Social Development spokesperson Motsamai Motlhaolwa told SABC News that the department is outraged by the irresponsible behaviour of the parents. He affirmed the department's commitment to investigating the incident and providing the necessary intervention to support the child. Motlhaolwa called on the public to share videos of such incidents with the department or the police to help ensure justice is served. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news
West Australian
31-07-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Sarah Jayne Kelly: Mum who lied about kids having illnesses including cancer had breasts removed needlessly
A mother who repeatedly lied about her children suffering illnesses, including cancer, subjected one of them to invasive procedures and also had her own breasts needlessly removed. Bizarre details of Sarah Jayne Kelly's medical child abuse case emerged on Thursday in the District Court, which was told the 30-year-old falsely claimed one of her sons had leukaemia and a brain tumour. Prosecutor Hannah Milligan said she also insisted to Fiona Stanley Hospital staff that all four of her kids had elements of ADHD and autism. Defence counsel Emma Zillessen argued there was 'a suggestion that one of the children may have a small amount of cerebral palsy' before admitting she had no evidence to support that and withdrew the remark. 'The whole family seems to be enmeshed in a diabolical, desperate system of, I don't even know how to put it,' Ms Zillessen said. Judge Laurie Levy noted Kelly — who had already admitted a GoFundMe fundraising fraud — had a double mastectomy 'for prophylactic reasons'. So her claim she had been flown back and forth from Esperance for radiation treatment was yet another lie, the judge asked, and Ms Zillessen conceded that was the case. 'There's been a conflagration of this strange behaviour ... we don't shy away from that at all,' the lawyer said. 'There is something wrong with her and jail is not therapeutic.' Kelly is facing sentencing for two charges, having care or control of a child engaging in conduct that was reckless and may have resulted in that child suffering, and failing to appear in court. She was extradited back to WA earlier this year after fleeing with her entire family interstate in a bid to dodge her fate and was remanded in custody at Melaleuca Women's Prison. Inmates there had raised concerns about her, Ms Zillessen said, referring to factitious disorder. It is a rare type of mental health condition previously known as Munchausen syndrome, involving making others believe you or someone under your care is ill. Kelly had been dragging herself around on the prison floor, Ms Zillessen said, and Judge Levy said she appeared much better than at her previous court appearance when she was reclining to one side and had difficulty speaking. After Judge Levy remarked on 'a reference to masochism', Ms Milligan confirmed Kelly had undiagnosed mental health issues. Defence counsel sought bail, saying her client had been separated from her children long enough and needed proper care outside jail, but the prosecutor objected. Ms Milligan said one of Kelly's sons may have suffered physically as a result of her lies - including being restrained for repeated insertions of nasogastric tubes. He may have also suffered psychologically from multiple presentations to doctors and hospitals, and she remained an ongoing risk to the children, Ms Milligan said. Judge Levy adjourned until August 11 pending a report from the Child Protection, saying he was not minded to grant bail 'on ordinary terms'. Kelly is due in court on August 8 on a charge of attempting to pervert justice.
