Five children to be taken from care of woman who caused them 'emotional harm'
Five children are to be taken from the care of a woman after a family court judge in Newcastle concluded that she had caused them emotional harm.
Judge Simon Wood said the woman was the mother of some of the children and the stepmother of others.
The judge said the woman had made unfounded allegations against both of the children's fathers.
He said she had alienated the youngsters from their fathers, damaged their sense of identity'' and caused themsignificant emotional harm''.
Detail of the case has emerged in rulings following hearings in a family court in Newcastle.
No-one involved has been identified.
Judge Wood approved care plans put forward by Northumberland County Council social services staff.
He said he had found the woman to be dishonest'',unreliable'' and manipulative''.
At an earlier stage of proceedings, the judge had refused to order that the children should be taken from the woman's care after questioning evidence put forward by a social worker.
In November the council had asked for the immediate removal'' of the children from the woman's care pending further proceedings and decisions about their long-term futures.
But Judge Wood had refused, telling how a social worker had been asked what evidence there was that the woman was emotionally abusing the children.
The social worker had said: I don't have evidence that they are being emotionally abused but there is no evidence that they are not.''
Judge Wood said he had analysed evidence at a subsequent hearing earlier this year before deciding that the youngsters should be taken from the woman.