A mother has lost her appeal against a court decision that her son should be taken from her and allowed to live with his grandparents under the supervision of the local authority.

The authority started care proceedings after a number of bruises were found on the woman’s elder daughter. The judge ruled that the daughter should live with her father but allowed the mother supervised contact. She was allowed to keep her son with her at that stage.

A consultant clinical psychologist told the hearing that the mother was suffering from an obsessive compulsive disorder which could lead to outbursts of anger. The disorder could benefit from cognitive behavioural therapy. The local authority could not afford to provide such specialist treatment but designated a social worker with some experience of such therapy to work with the mother.

The boy’s guardian told the court that the child would be at risk if he remained with his mother. The judge ordered that he should be committed to the care of the local authority and allowed stay with his maternal grandparents. The mother was allowed supervised contact.

The mother appealed but the court upheld the judge’s ruling saying his decision could not be faulted.