James Cleary has represented a local authority in a very serious case before the Court of Appeal, in O (A Child) (Judgment: Adequacy of Reasons) [2021] EWCA Civ 149.
A father appealed against a determination that he had anally raped his four-year-old daughter during various contact sessions. The appeal turned upon whether the trial Judge had given adequate reasons for his decision. The appeal was allowed, and guidance given by the court on the circumstances in which it is appropriate to ask for clarification of a judgment.