The natural mother of the baby boy who was found abandoned in a shoe box last Sunday in Cospicua has appealed against a temporary care order issued by the Ministry of Family and Social Solidarity which has placed him in state care.

The case, which has gripped the nation – generating feelings of sympathy and recognition of the need for more support – came about last Sunday when three children found the show box while out playing in Cospicua.

The three children had heard a crying noise coming from the box and they found a baby boy wrapped in a towel. Agenzija Appogg took the matter into hand and counseled the mother of the child after she had gone to St Luke’s Hospital of her own accord. On Thursday, the Ministry for Family and Social Solidarity issued a temporary care order in accordance with Article 5 of the 1980 Children’s Protection Act to safeguard the interest of the infant who was born on 1 April at St Luke’s Hospital. In the appeal, the mother said that she was appealing against both the temporary care order and any other subsequent order that may be issued in the future. The Malta Independent caught up with the woman’s legal team who explained that the mother was receiving counseling and was appealing against the temporary order which runs for 21 days. Once this temporary order runs out, then there may be an option for the authorities to issue a permanent order.

Appogg has already given its comments to the media and said that the option of reuniting the mother and baby was always a possibility, as long as it is in the child’s best interests. Such a move would probably include conditions and the monitoring of the situation by Apogg social workers for as long as is necessary.