Gdańsk Baby Left in Safe Haven Sparks Custody Battle

The news in Polish

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

Text Comprehension

Question: Where was the baby Sara found?

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

Vocabulary

Polish	English
grudzień (m.)	December
znaleźć	find
odzyskać	recover
rozstrzygnąć	decide
sąd (m.)	court
skomplikowany	complicated

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.

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.

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