Full Care Order Granted for Baby Born Addicted to Cocaine
A Dublin court has granted a full care order until the age of 18 for a five-month-old baby who was born addicted to cocaine and abandoned by his parents in hospital shortly after birth.
The Case:
Dublin District Court Judge Conor Fottrell described the case as "very sad" as he granted Tusla's application for the full care order. The infant, born in early January 2026, presented with severe withdrawal symptoms at birth including tremors, sneezing, a high-pitched cry, and a positive toxicology test for cocaine.
Mother's Background:
The court heard the mother is "extremely vulnerable" with a long history of:
Homelessness — sleeping rough during pregnancy
Substance misuse — toxicology testing late in pregnancy returned positive for heroin, cocaine, and cannabis
Domestic violence
Mental health issues
Timeline of Events:
September 2025: Tusla contacted by maternity hospital four months before birth due to missed antenatal appointments and concerns over the mother's homelessness and substance use
January 2026: Baby born with cocaine withdrawal symptoms; parents left the neonatal intensive care unit "for long periods" over following days
Mid-January: Emergency care order granted; parents agreed to voluntary care arrangement for eight weeks
Since shortly after birth: No contact from either parent despite repeated efforts by social workers to arrange access visits three times per week
The mother was discharged from hospital as she was not present on the ward following the child's birth. She subsequently indicated she could not care for the baby as she needed to address her addiction issues first, suggesting the father or his family take custody, but vetting issues arose.
Current Status:
The baby is now "healthy and thriving" in a long-term foster placement where he is "absolutely adored" and "so well looked after by other children" who "fight over who can hold and look after him when they return home from school." His court-appointed advocate described him as "alert, smiling" and doing well.
Judge's Ruling:
Judge Fottrell granted the full care order, noting that while the baby is now in a safe environment, "it is not clear whether his early life experiences will have any long-term negative impact on him." He emphasised that the parents could re-engage with Tusla at any time, but "currently there is no evidence of any change in relation to their addiction, homelessness, or ability to engage with professionals."
Neither parent attended the hearing, and while both were legally represented, their solicitors had not received instructions.