Kerry Robertson, “not bright” enough to care for a baby

vikki on Sun, 18th Oct 2009 9:08 pm 

this is rediculous social services are a bag of rubbish they couldnt save baby p or many other babies who were in dangeour yet they havnt given this poor girl a chance how can learning difficulties not make her a good enough mother i have dislexia does this mean i shouldnt be a mum its rediculous that they wont even let his dad take him home at least or at least let them have supervised visits or something is better than losing him, if i adopted him id let his parents see him its totally wrong!!!!!!!

lisa on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 12:11 am 

it’s about time money and resources was spent on kids with PROVEN histories of neglect. i do agree on this case, but under the guidance of a professional’s medical opinion - until then, it’s mere conjecture from Social Services.
Also, in England, if someone throws a puppy against a wall, they get banned from keeping pets - why arent they sterilising mums they deem ‘high risk’?

Mrs K H Hemmings on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 9:46 am 



I just read the 2nd article printed in the Daily Mirror today after already reading about Kerry a few weeks ago in the Daily Mail.This is ridiculous.Who do these social service people think they are?For a start it’s a basic human right - the right of marrying.Please read for yourselves.Also Kerry is over 16 years of age so it would be legal to marry.Therefore how could social services prevent them marrying for a start?I would quote & print out a copy for social services too if I were this couple.Regards being too dim to be a parent.Too dim for whom?What right do they have to judge her?Will we all have to take intelligence tests soon to see whether we can give birth & keep the child?Seems like it if we don’t stop this ridiculous nonsense.I think we should all contact the social services responsible for the decision & ask this question I’ve just highlighted.Something has to be done.

Mrs K H Hemmings on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 9:54 am 



Further to my recent comment regards Kerry the 17 year old who’s been prevented from marriage by Fife soc svces.It appears that Scottish Law deems her unfit mentally regards intelligence.Excuse me but once again I repeat human rights are human rights per se not just for the UK or just one country they are for everyone.Therefore this must surely overrule Scottish Law - that of international human rights.Also would she not be entitled to take her case to a european high court for this?
I certainly would.

Linda on Mon, 19th Oct 2009 4:43 pm 

such an awful story, my heart goes out to them and I hope htey get it worted and allowed to keep their baby, here in England we have a couple (with learning difficulties amongst other medical problems) being given IVF to help her get pregnant!

Keith Higham on Tue, 20th Oct 2009 9:51 am 

I watched GMTV this morning and am utterly appalled at the inhumane treatment this couple have received from Fife Social Services. Once again, social services are in the spotlight and appear to be hiding behind “legislation.”
Whatever happened to common sense, decency and humanity.
Anecdotally, I am aware of parents who are drug addicts with very young children being given “support” from social services rather than having the “at risk” children removed.

Indeed, Scots Law does require a “capacity” to enter into a contract and a party to any contract is required to have legal capacity to enter contracts of this sort. Generally, Scots law ensures that parties who are unable to fully understand the nature of a contract will not have the capacity to enter into it. Thus, insane individuals do not have capacity to enter into any contracts, whereas children under the age of 16 years can only enter into certain specific contacts.

I am no legal expert, but I would have thought that this couple would have a strong case and should obtain legal representation.

In the end I hope decency, humanity and common sense prevail.
Shame on you Fife Social Services.

Elaine Stewart on Tue, 20th Oct 2009 11:26 am 

On the face of it yes it does sound awful, however are we only being given snippets of information by the media? I suspect that there is more to this case than someone being “too dim to marry or bring up children” If this girl has a learning difficulty she may not be able to meet all her own needs far less that of a new born baby’s. Im sure if you ask any 17 year old parent about caring for a baby then they would tell you that its a lot harder than they thought. This girl’s capacity as a parent needs to be assessed before she is allowed to take her baby home and care for it and if she proves to be a good mum then well done for her and the baby. I understand the human rights issue but what about the rights of this baby - surely it has the right to be safe and free from harm, intentional or not.

Angela Paterson on Tue, 20th Oct 2009 12:15 pm 

I am outraged. At what point does the pendulum swing from ‘intelligent’ to ‘intelligent enough.
Has something been left out of the news - because I am at a loss to understand why this is even up for discussion!
It is human nature to love, to partner, to procreate. Why then, when there are so many cruel people in this world who are allowed to be parents - is this girl being penalised because she will need some support. Any other disability would be supported - why not this one.
As a business woman, a chairman of a PR company, a well connected individual - I would be happy to put my time, effort, contacts and voice behind supporting Kerry and her family in making the decision for THEMSELVES!
Angela

Jennifer on Tue, 20th Oct 2009 2:26 pm 

Firstly - if the Council have deemed, in their infinite wisdom (!) that Kerry is not capable of making a decision about marriage, if they are saying she is not mentally advanced enough to take care of a child, are they also questionning her loving partners intentions? As surely then they must also be saying she is not capable to make decisions about sex?? But no - they’re picking and choosing the issues they look at I suspect in light of recent Social work scandals…. an attempt to make themselves look good.

If they did their jobs properly & assisted couples such as this then the children in question are more likely to survive living at home. Alternatively they can leave children in the care of people who have been proven to abuse & neglect children as a ‘one last chance’ option and these children are irrevocably broken or worse.

I agree her capabilities need to be assessed, but with the right support from her partner and the appropriate agencies I’m sure she’d manage well - better than a lot of unmonitored parents!!

My step-kids mum was allowed to have a total of 9 children (at last count) - 4 with my partner. Whilst he worked 18 hour days and tried to keep everything going his children were neglected and in the case of one of them, beaten. He didn’t realise until it was too late - his son died. His 3 surviving children are all healthy and for the most part well now - but we spent 5 years fighting idiot social workers for our childrens rights to be protected from this woman. We got full custody of the children, but were still forced to take them kicking and screaming to see this drunken, drugged up mess of a woman - with threats of social workers coming and removing the children.

Social workers are inadequately trained bullies who are not capable of dealing with the workloads infront of them - where have my taxes gone????

Ruth on Wed, 21st Oct 2009 10:01 pm 



If social services were so concerned why did they let her move in with her boyfriend and get pregnant in the first place? No, it was all fine and dandy until she decided to do the traditional thing and marry the father of her unborn child. THAT would get in the way of social services STEALING the baby so couldn’t be allowed. Queue sudden panic and wedding cancellation. Can’t have mum and dad married so that he has a say, no, it’s much easier to steal babies from ’single’ mums. They’re evil, positively EVIL.

Next you’ll have to pass an IQ test to be allowed to reproduce. Eugenics didn’t die with the Nazis.

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