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03/12/2004
Blunkett wins right to proceed with access case
Home Secretary David Blunkett has won the first round of a High Court battle regarding access to his former lover's son.
Kimberly Quinn had been attempting to delay proceedings with an appeal to the High Court for an adjournment. It also emerged today that she is contesting Mr Blunkett's claim that he is the father of her two-year-old son.
At the High Court today in a public decision the Judge, Mr Justice Ryder, backed Mr Blunkett's right to a rapid decision in the interest of his relationship with the boy who was named in court as "A". Mrs Quinn had been seeking the adjournment and had appealed the decision of a lower court to proceed with the case. She contested that due to complications with her 28-week pregnancy and her state of mental health meant she could not get a fair hearing.
But following the rejection of her appeal, the family case will now be resumed in private and the judge appealed for respect to privacy for the family and the boy who was not named in the court ruling.
The Mr Justice Ryder condemned some of the speculation surrounding the case, but confirmed that Mrs Quinn had not sought to establish paternity of the boy, but only moved to seek an adjournment. He also stated that while Mr Blunkett had applied for a parental responsibility order and a contact order, he had neither sought a custody order nor asked for DNA testing.
A spokesperson for Mr Blunkett said that the case was all about the two-year old boy and confirmed that it was Mr Blunkett's belief that he was the boy's father.
Mr Blunkett has continued to work in his capacity as Home Secretary and was attending to constituency business today.
Mrs Quinn was seeking a five-month adjournment because her health was at risk. However, after today's seven-page High Court ruling, which rejected the appeal by Mrs Quinn, the case may proceed without a delay.
(SP/MB)
Kimberly Quinn had been attempting to delay proceedings with an appeal to the High Court for an adjournment. It also emerged today that she is contesting Mr Blunkett's claim that he is the father of her two-year-old son.
At the High Court today in a public decision the Judge, Mr Justice Ryder, backed Mr Blunkett's right to a rapid decision in the interest of his relationship with the boy who was named in court as "A". Mrs Quinn had been seeking the adjournment and had appealed the decision of a lower court to proceed with the case. She contested that due to complications with her 28-week pregnancy and her state of mental health meant she could not get a fair hearing.
But following the rejection of her appeal, the family case will now be resumed in private and the judge appealed for respect to privacy for the family and the boy who was not named in the court ruling.
The Mr Justice Ryder condemned some of the speculation surrounding the case, but confirmed that Mrs Quinn had not sought to establish paternity of the boy, but only moved to seek an adjournment. He also stated that while Mr Blunkett had applied for a parental responsibility order and a contact order, he had neither sought a custody order nor asked for DNA testing.
A spokesperson for Mr Blunkett said that the case was all about the two-year old boy and confirmed that it was Mr Blunkett's belief that he was the boy's father.
Mr Blunkett has continued to work in his capacity as Home Secretary and was attending to constituency business today.
Mrs Quinn was seeking a five-month adjournment because her health was at risk. However, after today's seven-page High Court ruling, which rejected the appeal by Mrs Quinn, the case may proceed without a delay.
(SP/MB)
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