The Juvenile Court of L’Aquila orders the removal of the mother from the three children of the “family in the woods”. Political clash after the decision
New chapter in the story of the so-called “family in the woods” by Palmolithe case that has been dividing public opinion, the judiciary and politicians for months. The Juvenile Court of L’Aquila ordered the removal of the mother, Catherine Birmingham, from the family home in Vasto where she was with her three children and the transfer of the children to another educational community.
The provision establishes the separation between mother and minorswho will however continue to live together in the new structure. The judges also recommended intensify meetings with the fatherconsidered a figure capable of guaranteeing stability and serenity to children.
The decision comes while the process is still underway psychological counseling on minorsa circumstance that aroused strong criticism from the family’s defense team.
The court order
The provision states that “the removal of minors from the family home where they are currently placed is ordered and their transfer to another educational community with interruption of cohabitation with their mother”.
The ordinance also cites the reports of the educators of the Vasto facility, where mother and children have been since Last November 20th. According to reports, Catherine Birmingham “is often hostile and disqualifying, mocks attempts to find common ground and trusts no one.” An attitude which, again according to the operators, would also influence the children, who show anger and the desire to return home.
The judges maintain that the constant presence of the mother would have become an obstacle to planned educational interventions and could be “prejudicial to the emotional balance and education of minors”.
The defense protest
The decision was confirmed by the family’s lawyer, Marco Femminellashortly before entering the family home where the psychological assessment of the children was scheduled.
The lawyer harshly criticized the provision, underlining how it was adopted in the full flow of technical consultancy. “There is a court order which, with such high sensitivity that we appreciated, has decided to separate the children from their mother while the counseling is still underway,” he declared with evident irritation.
According to the defense, the decision would have de facto the ongoing evaluation process was interruptedalso making the carrying out of the psychological tests scheduled for today and tomorrow uncertain.
Meloni’s intervention
The court’s decision also provoked one political clash. The Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni she intervened with very harsh words on social media.
“The task of the Juvenile Courts is to protect children in cases of mistreatment, abuse or abandonment,” the prime minister wrote. “But where is the interest of the minor when children are first removed from their father, then from their mother, and remain for months in a family home because the judges do not share the family’s lifestyle?”.
Meloni then added: «The children are not of the State, they are mothers and fathers. A state that claims to replace parents forgets its own limits.”
The political and institutional reactions
Also the guarantor for children Marina Terragni expressed doubts, hoping that the decision will be suspended at least until the conclusion of the technical consultancy.
The position of the also lasts Alloywho in a post on Carlo Nordio to evaluate the opening of an inspection.
The opinion of the family psychiatrist
Criticisms also come from the psychiatrist who follows the family, Tonino Cantelmiaccording to which the decision was the result of a chain of errors.
Cantelmi claims that the consultancy was entrusted to a professional who “does not deal with minors” and that the order ends up attributing all the responsibility for the difficulties that emerged to the mother.
According to the specialist, the separation is likely to cause a new trauma to childrenforced to leave the current structure to fit into a completely different context.
A story destined to cause discussion
The decision of the Juvenile Court of L’Aquila therefore opens a new and delicate chapter in the story of the Palmoli family. On the one hand the judiciary which deems it necessary to intervene to guarantee the balance of minors, on the other the defence, part of politics and some experts who speak of a premature and potentially harmful choice.
While the children will be transferred to a new educational community, the central question remains open: what the best interests of minors really are in a story that continues to deeply divide Italian public opinion.
