It’s being reported that the judge has ruled out allowing little Alfie to travel to Rome.
Here’s what we know from the court proceedings:
Bizarre levels of security at Alfie Evans hearing. Press and public searched at courtroom doors, as well as on entering court building. Five security guards on the door. Six police officers nearby. Mobile phones taken from anyone without a press pass.
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) April 24, 2018
Alfie Evans parents’ barrister asks judge to lift an order preventing the boy from being removed from Alder Hey: “It’s really an application for common humanity and common sense.”
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) April 24, 2018
Mr Justice Hayden repeatedly slaps down Paul Diamond, the barrister for Alfie’s parents, for highly-charged language the judge calls “ridiculous emotive nonsense”.
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) April 24, 2018
Judge intervened after Diamond said current legal situation is “contrary to civilised norms”. Judge says he doesn’t want court to be used “as a platform for platitudes and soundbites but for proper submissions” on behalf of Alfie’s family.
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) April 24, 2018
Barrister for Alder Hey says doctors told Alfie’s parents yesterday afternoon that he could survive minutes, hours or even days after ventilation withdrawn
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) April 24, 2018
Paul Diamond, for Alfie’s parents, told the judge the boy could live for as long as 10 days without life-support ventilation
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) April 24, 2018
Here’s the reporting that the judge has ruled out a trip to Rome:
New: Judge appears to have ruled out allowing Alfie to go to Rome or Munich for treatment - but asks Alder Hey to consider possibility of letting parents take him home.
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) April 24, 2018
Courtroom has risen while Alder Hey consider this point.
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) April 24, 2018
There has also been criticism from Alder Hey and the judge of some people around Alfie’s parents, said to be providing them false hope. “It’s profoundly depressing to say the least,” said the judge. He called one a “fanatical and deluded young man”.
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) April 24, 2018
What consolation exactly is it for Alfie to go home without being allowed to go to a different hospital? In a different country? One where they just won’t pull the plug on the child and let him die against the wishes of the parents?
Just horrible.
I believe Matt Walsh sums it up for us very well:
This judge is a monster. Dear God, what a disgusting, reprehensible man. God have mercy on him. https://t.co/RLpnAHOXY8
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) April 24, 2018
Alfie Evans will die because judges and doctors don't want to be proven wrong. Pride and arrogance is what will murder little Alfie.
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) April 24, 2018
He’s exactly right. But I think it’s even more than that. These lawyers aren’t just arguing for the reputation of these doctors, they are arguing for the authority of these doctors. After all, if law essentially says the right of the doctors overrules the rights of the parents, then you just can’t have judges circumventing that law willy nilly. Once precedents are set by judges against the NHS and doctors are proven wrong, it will reveal the stupidity and recklessness of this law.
All the while, a 23-month old little boy dies because the government says they know best.
At the end of the day, it could very well be that Alfie’s condition will lead to his death. They could fly him to Rome, only for him to die tomorrow. But it’s one thing for Alfie to die on his own or for the parents to decide to pull the plug. It’s another thing entirely for a fascist government to pull the plug over the objection of his parents.
For Alfie we pray:
Lord, look upon Alfie Evans with eyes of mercy, may your healing hand rest upon him, may your lifegiving powers flow into every cell of his body and into the depths of his soul, cleansing, purifying, restoring him to wholeness and strength for service in your Kingdom. Amen.
UPDATE:
The family lost…
New: Alfie Evans family has lost its legal challenge to fly him to Italy for treatment in what judge calls the “final chapter in the case of this extraordinary little boy”
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) April 24, 2018