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| Family's shock at methadone baby | Family's shock at methadone baby |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The family of a woman jailed for giving her baby daughter the heroin substitute methadone in a feeding bottle have told of their shock and sadness. | The family of a woman jailed for giving her baby daughter the heroin substitute methadone in a feeding bottle have told of their shock and sadness. |
| Martin Williams said his half-sister Nia Wyn Jones, 30, came from a stable, chapel-going family. | Martin Williams said his half-sister Nia Wyn Jones, 30, came from a stable, chapel-going family. |
| He said he could understand the "natural reaction" of people to a case when a child was being harmed. | He said he could understand the "natural reaction" of people to a case when a child was being harmed. |
| But he said his parents in Caernarfon, Gwynedd, and all the family had done everything possible to support her. | |
| A comprehensive review of social services was promised after last week's court case. | A comprehensive review of social services was promised after last week's court case. |
| Nia Wyn Jones was sentenced to three years in prison after admitting to supplying methadone and ill-treating her third child, a girl born last June. | Nia Wyn Jones was sentenced to three years in prison after admitting to supplying methadone and ill-treating her third child, a girl born last June. |
| I went to see her about two years ago and she was like a skeleton... I didn't think she would live Martin Williams, Nia Wyn Jones's half-brother | I went to see her about two years ago and she was like a skeleton... I didn't think she would live Martin Williams, Nia Wyn Jones's half-brother |
| Mr Williams, 36, said the family had no idea what was going on, and they had done everything they could to help. | Mr Williams, 36, said the family had no idea what was going on, and they had done everything they could to help. |
| "Our initial reaction was that we were shocked with it all, we got such a fright," he told the BBC Wales News website. | "Our initial reaction was that we were shocked with it all, we got such a fright," he told the BBC Wales News website. |
| "We were also so saddened as we are an established, chapel-going family," he added. | "We were also so saddened as we are an established, chapel-going family," he added. |
| The family tried everything to help his sister, but felt that the system had let them down. | The family tried everything to help his sister, but felt that the system had let them down. |
| He said Ms Jones had begun a relationship about three years ago and through her partner had begun to take drugs. | He said Ms Jones had begun a relationship about three years ago and through her partner had begun to take drugs. |
| 'Skeleton' | 'Skeleton' |
| "I went to see her about two years ago and she was like a skeleton. I didn't think she would live," he said. | "I went to see her about two years ago and she was like a skeleton. I didn't think she would live," he said. |
| He added he was so concerned about her that he called social services and asked them to become involved. | He added he was so concerned about her that he called social services and asked them to become involved. |
| He said he did not think the flat where his sister lived at the time in Porthmadog was safe for her two elder sons. | He said he did not think the flat where his sister lived at the time in Porthmadog was safe for her two elder sons. |
| Nia Wyn Jones grew up in a chapel-going family in Caernarfon | Nia Wyn Jones grew up in a chapel-going family in Caernarfon |
| The boys were allowed to stay with their mother, but Mr Williams said his parents then took them to live with them in Caernarfon because they were so concerned. | The boys were allowed to stay with their mother, but Mr Williams said his parents then took them to live with them in Caernarfon because they were so concerned. |
| "[My parents] haven't got a lot but the children were being well cared for, given food, clothing, as much love as possible, they did everything for them." | "[My parents] haven't got a lot but the children were being well cared for, given food, clothing, as much love as possible, they did everything for them." |
| Hospital | Hospital |
| He said his sister then left her partner in Porthmadog and moved in with her parents. | He said his sister then left her partner in Porthmadog and moved in with her parents. |
| She tried to come off the drugs, and the family was under a lot of pressure, he said. | She tried to come off the drugs, and the family was under a lot of pressure, he said. |
| At that time the partner was being kept away from Ms Jones by the family, said Mr Williams. | At that time the partner was being kept away from Ms Jones by the family, said Mr Williams. |
| But when Ms Jones got her own flat the partner "got back into her life". | But when Ms Jones got her own flat the partner "got back into her life". |
| "When she fell pregnant she came off the heroin, and went on methadone," he said. | "When she fell pregnant she came off the heroin, and went on methadone," he said. |
| 'Incredibly supportive' | 'Incredibly supportive' |
| After the baby was born the family did not suspect that Ms Jones was giving her methadone, he added. | After the baby was born the family did not suspect that Ms Jones was giving her methadone, he added. |
| "We took the little girl to hospital in October because she wasn't well, and she was in for two weeks. | "We took the little girl to hospital in October because she wasn't well, and she was in for two weeks. |
| "The hospital was happy to discharge her, so how did they expect us to know what was going on if the medical profession did not realise," he said. | "The hospital was happy to discharge her, so how did they expect us to know what was going on if the medical profession did not realise," he said. |
| It was not until the baby was readmitted to hospital on Christmas Eve that the drug was discovered. | It was not until the baby was readmitted to hospital on Christmas Eve that the drug was discovered. |
| We understand that Nia has done this, and what has happened has shown us who our friends are Martin Williams, half-brother | We understand that Nia has done this, and what has happened has shown us who our friends are Martin Williams, half-brother |
| "We couldn't believe it," he said. | "We couldn't believe it," he said. |
| "At the time we were busy looking after the two other children, and Nia and her partner were with the baby in hospital." | "At the time we were busy looking after the two other children, and Nia and her partner were with the baby in hospital." |
| Mr Williams said the family had been "incredibly supportive" and that "we feel we couldn't have done more". | Mr Williams said the family had been "incredibly supportive" and that "we feel we couldn't have done more". |
| He said the family thought the system had let them down, and there needed to be a more integrated approach from the various agencies in similar cases. | He said the family thought the system had let them down, and there needed to be a more integrated approach from the various agencies in similar cases. |
| "We understand that Nia has done this, and what has happened has shown us who our friends are." | "We understand that Nia has done this, and what has happened has shown us who our friends are." |
| He said the family had been hurt by comments made about them during and after the case. | He said the family had been hurt by comments made about them during and after the case. |
| "When we think about it though, it's a natural reaction to a case where a child is being harmed - we understand that people think 'how could you do that?' " | "When we think about it though, it's a natural reaction to a case where a child is being harmed - we understand that people think 'how could you do that?' " |
| The chapel and minister were an important part of the family's lives, he added. | The chapel and minister were an important part of the family's lives, he added. |
| "We are a religious family, and when this all began I took the boys for a couple of weeks, then the minister took them to live with him for a month. | "We are a religious family, and when this all began I took the boys for a couple of weeks, then the minister took them to live with him for a month. |
| "Now they live with a family friend, and can only visit my parents under supervision. | "Now they live with a family friend, and can only visit my parents under supervision. |
| "They no longer attend the chapel, and although we've done everything we could to bring up them up, we are now being victimised." | "They no longer attend the chapel, and although we've done everything we could to bring up them up, we are now being victimised." |
| He said for the future the family hoped the little girl would be all right. | He said for the future the family hoped the little girl would be all right. |
| "I hope Nia learns from her mistakes, and that the support is available to her when she comes out of prison, and that we can see the little boys," he added. | "I hope Nia learns from her mistakes, and that the support is available to her when she comes out of prison, and that we can see the little boys," he added. |
| The baby remains in the care of the council. | The baby remains in the care of the council. |
| Following last week's court case Det Ch Insp Peter Gaffey, vice-chairman of Gwynedd and Anglesey's local safeguarding children board, said a "comprehensive review" would establish if further steps needed to be taken "and if lessons can be learnt". | Following last week's court case Det Ch Insp Peter Gaffey, vice-chairman of Gwynedd and Anglesey's local safeguarding children board, said a "comprehensive review" would establish if further steps needed to be taken "and if lessons can be learnt". |