Re P (A Child)
[2018] EWCA Civ 720 · Court of Appeal
What happened: A girl adopted with her sister in 2008 entered local authority accommodation in 2014 after alleging sexual abuse by her adoptive father. She later received inpatient mental health treatment. The appeal concerned the court’s handling of disputed allegations and its findings.
What the court decided: The Court of Appeal set aside the findings because the decision-making process and reasons were seriously deficient. The care order remained on a separate, unchallenged basis. Setting aside the findings was not a determination that the allegations were false.
Why it matters to adoptees: Adopted children may need protection and care outside their adoptive homes. Their allegations require a sound investigation and a properly reasoned decision. This case records a failure of the justice system to resolve serious allegations reliably; entering care did not itself end the adoption.
Review limitations recorded
No exhaustive later treatment review; see source and review limitations.
Limitations: The child is called T in the judgment despite the case title Re P. The source PDF filename says 1483, but its judgment header identifies [2018] EWCA Civ 720. No exhaustive later treatment review.
Case details and sources
Adoptee involvement: The judgment records allegations and changes in her accounts. Those are distinguished from established findings.
Remedy sought: Contested findings set aside; care order continued.
Legal route: Appeal against findings in care proceedings after adoption
Judgments in this case
- [2018] EWCA Civ 720 · Court of Appeal · 2018-04-11 · Principal judgment
Sources checked
- Approved judgment PDF (opens in a new tab)
Header; paragraphs 1–12, 23 and 48–49 · Judgment
Review scope: Facts, outcome and adoptee relevance checked against the listed judgment passages. The child is called T in the judgment despite the case title Re P. The source PDF filename says 1483, but its judgment header identifies [2018] EWCA Civ 720. No exhaustive later treatment review.
Human verification pending. Entry: CASE-NEW-049.