This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-43788247
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Alfie Evans case: Court rules against parents again | Alfie Evans case: Court rules against parents again |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The parents of terminally ill toddler Alfie Evans have lost their latest legal battle. | The parents of terminally ill toddler Alfie Evans have lost their latest legal battle. |
Tom Evans and Kate James asked Court of Appeal judges to rule that the 23-month-old should be allowed to receive treatment in Italy. | Tom Evans and Kate James asked Court of Appeal judges to rule that the 23-month-old should be allowed to receive treatment in Italy. |
Earlier Alder Hey Children's Hospital urged protesters supporting the parents to show respect. | Earlier Alder Hey Children's Hospital urged protesters supporting the parents to show respect. |
Police are investigating "acts of intimidation" among hospital protesters. | |
Ch Insp Chris Gibson said officers recognised the sensitivities involved: "Whilst many people have gathered to protest in a peaceful way, Merseyside Police is now investigating a small number of reports, some of which originate from social media, as well as instances of verbal abuse and acts of intimidation from those outside the hospital". | |
"We would like to remind the public that this is a hospital for sick children and it should not be forgotten that many families are going through extremely challenging and emotional times," Mr Gibson said. | |
Judges said they were "dismayed and concerned" by reports of some protesters' actions. | Judges said they were "dismayed and concerned" by reports of some protesters' actions. |
One judge, Lord Justice Moylan, said staff had not been able to get into the hospital and that staff, patients and relatives had been frightened. | One judge, Lord Justice Moylan, said staff had not been able to get into the hospital and that staff, patients and relatives had been frightened. |
A relative of a patient at Alder Hey, which won a legal battle to withdraw Alfie's life support, had described visits as "intimidating and scary" because of some of the people protesting. | A relative of a patient at Alder Hey, which won a legal battle to withdraw Alfie's life support, had described visits as "intimidating and scary" because of some of the people protesting. |
In a statement posted on Facebook, Mr Evans said: "Deepest apologies from me and Kate James to the parents and staff affected by the protest/demonstration, it wasn't mine Kate's or anyone else's intention to harm or cause conflict or upset. We just wanted to take our son to give him the chance he deserves." | |
Mr Evans, 21, and Ms James, 20, who are from Liverpool, have lost fights in the High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and European Court of Human Rights. | Mr Evans, 21, and Ms James, 20, who are from Liverpool, have lost fights in the High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and European Court of Human Rights. |
On Monday Lord Justice Davis, Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Moylan ruled against the parents at the appeal court hearing in London. | On Monday Lord Justice Davis, Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Moylan ruled against the parents at the appeal court hearing in London. |
They also rejected a request for the case to go back to the Supreme Court. | They also rejected a request for the case to go back to the Supreme Court. |
'Groundhog Day' | 'Groundhog Day' |
However, Alfie's parents have 24 hours to ask permission directly from the court if they wish. | However, Alfie's parents have 24 hours to ask permission directly from the court if they wish. |
Appeal court judges said doctors should continue treating Alfie pending a Supreme Court decision. | Appeal court judges said doctors should continue treating Alfie pending a Supreme Court decision. |
Earlier in the hearing, Lord Justice Davis said doctors had agreed that there was "no hope" for Alfie. | Earlier in the hearing, Lord Justice Davis said doctors had agreed that there was "no hope" for Alfie. |
He said: "We cannot have a kind of legal 'Groundhog Day' where you come back again and again and again on the same point." | He said: "We cannot have a kind of legal 'Groundhog Day' where you come back again and again and again on the same point." |
In February, Mr Justice Hayden ruled doctors could stop treating Alfie against the wishes of his parents following hearings in the Family Division of the High Court in London and Liverpool. | In February, Mr Justice Hayden ruled doctors could stop treating Alfie against the wishes of his parents following hearings in the Family Division of the High Court in London and Liverpool. |
Specialists at Alder Hey said life support treatment should stop and Mr Justice Hayden said he accepted medical evidence, which showed further treatment was futile. | Specialists at Alder Hey said life support treatment should stop and Mr Justice Hayden said he accepted medical evidence, which showed further treatment was futile. |
Mr Evans thanked supporters and criticised Alder Hey in a statement he made outside the hospital after the ruling. | Mr Evans thanked supporters and criticised Alder Hey in a statement he made outside the hospital after the ruling. |
"We are never going to back down. We will keep fighting all the way. We will never give up on you, Alfie," he said. | "We are never going to back down. We will keep fighting all the way. We will never give up on you, Alfie," he said. |
Alfie's parents say "the state" is wrongly interfering with their parental choice. They want to move Alfie to a hospital in Rome. | Alfie's parents say "the state" is wrongly interfering with their parental choice. They want to move Alfie to a hospital in Rome. |
Mr Justice Hayden said flying Alfie to a foreign hospital would be wrong and pointless. | Mr Justice Hayden said flying Alfie to a foreign hospital would be wrong and pointless. |
Last week, Mr Justice Hayden endorsed a detailed plan put forward by Alder Hey doctors for withdrawing life support treatment, after considering a number of issues at a follow-up High Court hearing. | Last week, Mr Justice Hayden endorsed a detailed plan put forward by Alder Hey doctors for withdrawing life support treatment, after considering a number of issues at a follow-up High Court hearing. |
In statement Alder Hey said it "refuted" criticisms from Mr Evans of the treatment Alfie has received. | |
The statement adds: "Our priority is to continue to provide the best possible care for Alfie and his parents at this difficult time." |