The Juvenile Court of L’Aquila (central Italy) has provisionally separated three children from their parents because they lived isolated in a cabin in the forest that does not have basic hygienic services. The case has sparked a great deal of concern. The children have been transferred to a foster home and after a long mediation between social services and the judicial authorities, the mother has been able to accompany them, while the father has stayed at home, also to take care of the family’s animals.
Catherine Birmingham, a 45-year-old Australian, riding teacher, and her husband Nathan Trevallion, a 51-year-old Englishman, cook and craftsman, lived with their children, an 8-year-old girl and her two 6-year-old twins in a cabin they had recently bought and renovated in a forest area, forty minutes from the city, in the Abruzzo region. They had installed solar panels to generate energy, they had an electric heating system and a fireplace, but they did not have running water, although it did have drinking water, and the bathroom was in a room attached to the house, instead of inside.
The couple made the decision to settle in the countryside to lead a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle. They grow the food they eat, draw water from a well and generate electricity with solar panels. They have a horse that the woman brought from Australia, a donkey, cats, chickens and two dogs. Furthermore, they directly taught their children at home, instead of sending them to school.
The case began to have media coverage at the beginning of this month, when it was learned that the Juvenile Court was investigating their situation and would shortly make a decision on the future of the three minors. The justice system was studying their case, even though they lived in those conditions by their own decision and there were no signs of abuse of the minors.
It all started in September of last year, when the family suffered serious poisoning from eating poisonous mushrooms. On that occasion they called the emergency services, who took them to the hospital. The health workers warned the judicial authorities and the social services were also activated, which have inspected the home on several occasions, and have warned that the house does not have a certificate of occupancy.
This week, the court, at the request of the juvenile prosecutor’s office, decided to suspend the custody of the minors, alleging that the home does not have a bathroom inside and that the children do not have social interactions, nor can they play with other children freely. Judges have also penalized the fact that parents have chosen to teach their children in the context of their home and
