French father’s bid to win custody of adopted son fails

A French appeals court has refused a young father's request to have his son taken from an adoptive family and handed over to his custody. The 29-year-old father said he was unaware his former partner gave birth and gave the child up for adoption while he was in prison.

The boy's father was in prison when he was born and was unaware of his existence Getty Images/ Romilly Lockyer

Following his release, he launched a long procedure to be given his son but, despite an initial positive decision, the appeals court knocked down his request.

The boy was placed in a foster home two months after his birth.

Today, at the age of more than a year and a half, he identifies his adoptive parents as his mother and father.

The court argued the boy's development would be stunted if he had to change families and households.

It also ruled the man had waited too long to file his request.

The adoptive family expressed relief at the decision, while the father said he would pursue his case up to the European Court of Human Rights.