Gdańsk Baby Left in Safe Haven Sparks Custody Battle

Learner News | 08/02/2025

In this edition of Polish Learner News, we look at the heart-wrenching legal battle over baby Sara, found in a Gdańsk ‘safe haven,’ as her parents strive to reunite with her amidst complex circumstances.

Gdańsk Baby Left in Safe Haven Sparks Custody Battle

The news in Polish

W grudniu1 2024 roku w Gdańsku, dziecko zostało znalezione2 w “oknie życia”. Była to dziewczynka, Sara, około 11-miesięczna. Rodzice, Marcin i jego żona, chcą odzyskać3 córkę, ale muszą to rozstrzygnąć4 w sądzie5 . Sprawa jest skomplikowana6 z powodu problemów w rodzinie i z prawem.

  1. grudzień (m.)
    dwunasty miesiąc w roku kalendarzowym, następujący po listopadzie ↩︎
  2. znaleźć
    odkryć coś, co było zgubione lub szukane ↩︎
  3. odzyskać
    ponownie zdobyć coś, co się straciło ↩︎
  4. rozstrzygnąć
    podjąć decyzję lub rozwiązanie ↩︎
  5. sąd (m.)
    miejsce, gdzie prowadzi się postępowania prawne i gdzie zapadają wyroki ↩︎
  6. skomplikowany
    mający wiele trudnych elementów lub aspektów ↩︎

Translation

In December 2024, in Gdańsk, a baby was found in a ‘life window’. It was a girl named Sara, approximately 11 months old. Her parents, Marcin and his wife, want to reclaim their daughter, but they must resolve the matter in court. The case is complicated due to family and legal issues.

Text Comprehension

Question: Where was the baby Sara found?

Sara was found in a ‘safe haven’ or ‘window of life.’

Question: Who wants to get the baby back from the safe haven?

Sara’s parents, Marcin and his wife, want to get her back.

Vocabulary

PolishEnglish
grudzień (m.)December
znaleźćfind
odzyskaćrecover
rozstrzygnąćdecide
sąd (m.)court
skomplikowanycomplicated

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Read the full story

A man claiming to be the child’s father, identified as Marcin, later came forward. He asserted that his wife had placed their daughter, named Sara, in the safe haven without his knowledge. He described the act as a deliberate attempt to spite him, emphasizing the emotional complexities surrounding the family.

Meanwhile, Sara’s mother has portrayed a starkly different version of events, claiming she acted on impulse during a nervous breakdown. Amidst accusations from both sides, she described her husband as controlling and abusive. Both parents have expressed their desire to regain custody of their daughter, complicating the judicial proceedings.

Gdańsk Baby Left in Safe Haven Sparks Custody Battle
Gdańsk Baby Left in Safe Haven Sparks Custody Battle

On 7th February, the family court in Gdańsk convened for the first time to determine the child’s future. Attendees included Sara’s biological parents, her foster family, and a representative from the Children’s Rights Commissioner. However, no definitive decision was made regarding custody. The court is awaiting an expert opinion before scheduling the next hearing.

Adding to the complexity, it was later revealed that the parents had been arrested in connection with the theft of two children’s prams. This incident further complicates their efforts to regain custody of Sara.

The “window of life” in Gdańsk functions as a safe and anonymous option for parents to leave children they cannot support, in operation since 2009 and managed by Caritas. This case highlights the legal and emotional challenges faced by families in distress and the role of such facilities in providing temporary solutions.

Info: “Polish Learner News” is a service from “Let’s Learn Polish”, a language school dedicated to helping students master the intricacies of the Polish language. We offer various types of online courses designed to meet diverse needs and preferences in Polish language learning.


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