Mother-to-be flees UK for Ireland in adoption row

Steven Morris

A heavily pregnant woman fled to Ireland because she feared that social workers would take away her son for adoption as soon as he was born, it emerged yesterday. Emily Burgess claims her baby will be removed because her ex-partner was convicted of child cruelty. Though Burgess insists she has split up with the man, she is certain that social workers would still have taken the boy. Police issued an appeal for information on Burgess's whereabouts last week. She is being supported by Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming, chair of the group Justice for Families, who said Burgess is a "refugee".