Judge allows reporting of case where DNA tests established that three abandoned babies were full siblings

A newborn baby abandoned in Newham, East London, has been found - following DNA testing - to be the third child abandoned by the same parents.

According to the Metropolitan Police, “Baby Elsa” was found by a member of the public who discovered the newborn in a shopping bag on 18 January.

DNA tests presented to the East London Family Court established that Baby Elsa is the sibling of two babies, a boy and a girl, found in similar circumstances in 2017 and 2019.

According to the BBC, the Family Court heard that the children, whose names have now been changed, will all know that they are full siblings, and there are plans for them to have some form of contact as they grow up.

Met officers have worked with partner agencies including Newham Council, the NHS, and local charities, but despite their efforts the children’s mother, or parents, have not been identified.

The case was allowed to be reported due to the lifting of reporting restrictions by the Family Court at 19 court centres across England and Wales, as part of a Transparency Pilot.

At participating courts, accredited media and legal bloggers may report on what they see and hear during family court cases, subject to “strict rules of anonymity”.

This is done through judges in the pilot courts making a ‘Transparency Order’, which sets out the rules of what can and cannot be reported.

The BBC and PA Media argued in court that it was a “matter of public interest” that the three children had been abandoned at birth by the same parents.

Her Honour Judge Atkinson agreed, the BBC said. The judge concluded that if she were to refuse reporting, it would affect the “public consciousness” of these matters, and restrict open justice in such cases.

Laura Eden, Director of Children Services at Newham Council said: “We respect that there will be significant interest in this case, following the lifting of reporting restrictions by the Family Court. However the primary, and only focus of the council and partners, is to protect the rights, welfare and future happiness of these three children and their carers.

“In each case Newham Council has worked closely with the Metropolitan Police and partners to try to establish the identity of the parents, but despite extensive and ongoing enquiries this has not proved possible. It is due to the diligence of Newham Social Services that this familial link has been established by DNA testing – we hope it will be of comfort to the siblings as they grow up.”

Detective Inspector Jamie Humm from the North East Command Unit which covers Newham said: "We understand the significant public interest that will come following the lifting of restrictions that allow this information to be reported. It is significant news and our work has focused on trying to locate the mother and provide support to her.

"We have worked 24/7 in each of these three cases to identify the parents, so far without success.

"We have also had to be mindful of the sensitivities that exist now all of the children are being cared for. Their welfare, including their privacy, is paramount.

"We continue to investigate, and will consider the next steps in our investigation."

Lottie Winson