Family upset after dad gets care of baby

A BABY at the centre of a paternity battle after his 17-year-old schoolgirl mum died in childbirth has been reunited with his dad.

Little Keiran was placed under the care of social workers after tragic Sereena Morgan, already a mother of two, died when a severe chest infection developed into septicaemia.

The teenage mum slipped away having never held her newly-born son.

Her distraught family, from Armadale, West Lothian, wanted the infant placed with his two brothers who now live in Winchburgh with Sereena's former partner, 25-year-old Brian Armit.

But Mr Armit, a kitchen porter, had split up with Sereena before Keiran was born, and she had begun a relationship with another man, Gary Smith, and had become engaged.

It is understood Sereena was uncertain which of the two men was Keiran's father, and shortly before she died, she asked Brian to take a blood test to see if he was the dad.

Now results of DNA tests have found Mr Smith to be the natural father and he has been given custody of his baby boy. Keiran is now being cared for by Mr Smith at his Armadale home.

But Sereena's family today said they were disappointed at the decision and insisted the baby should be with his brothers.

Mary Morgan, Sereena's mum , said: "I am really upset about the whole thing. No-one has even phoned me to tell me what was happening and, as far as I know, they didn't call Brian either.

"I have been told nothing. He is my third grandchild and I have seen him twice since he was taken into care. I can't see him now and there is nothing I can do."

The 37-year-old added: "We wanted Keiran to be with his brothers and all of them kept together. I have tried to speak to the social workers, but it is no use because nothing gets done.

"I have known Brian's parents for 30-odd years and we get along fine. I am able to go and see my other two grandchildren as often as I like, but the boys won't be able to see their own little brother.

"The truth is, the family are not happy about this . . . Sereena would have wanted her boys to stay together."

Sereena was rushed to St John's Hospital in Livingston in February, suffering from a severe chest infection after she complained of feeling unwell . Doctors discovered the infection had caused blood poisoning, which in turn induced the birth of her third son eight weeks prematurely.

Keiran was born four hours later and placed in an incubator in the specialist baby unit. Immediately after the birth Sereena was taken to intensive care, but she died 27 hours later.

The official next-of-kin is the natural father of the child and social workers were forced to wait until the test results were known before they knew where to place the child.

Sereena, a former pupil at St Kentigern's High School in Blackburn, West Lothian, was taken into care when she was just six years old, along with her two younger sisters, one of whom she never saw again.

She became pregnant for the first time when she was 14, and moved back in with her mother in nearby Armadale.

When her second son was born, she moved in with Mr Armit's parents in Winchburgh. She was eventually allocated a council house .

Today, Mr Armit's parents refused to comment, but confirmed their son had not been awarded custody of Keiran.

A spokeswoman for West Lothian Council said: "We are aware that the paternity tests are now complete and the decision has been made to place the child in the care of the person deemed to be the father."

Mr Smith could not be contacted for comment.