High Court approves adoption of teenage girl without parents' consent

The High Court has approved the adoption of a 17-year-old girl currently in foster care, allowing it to proceed without her birth parents' consent. The Child and Family Agency, Tusla, initiated the application, citing the girl's desire for security. The birth parents contested claims of abandonment, asserting they maintained contact with their daughter. However, the court noted their limited engagement with care services and assessments, which influenced the decision. Judge Nuala Jackson emphasized that adoption creates a new family relationship supported by the state. She acknowledged the birth parents' ongoing role but determined that the girl's best interests favored the adoption order.