Alfie Evans latest update: Was baby Alfie given Italian citizenship? Alder Hey statement
Was Alfie Evans granted Italian citizenship? In an unexpected turn of events, the 23-month-old boy who has been confined to his Alder Hey hospital bed since December 2016, was granted Italian citizenship. The lifeline came after the UK High Court ruled Alder Hey Children’s Hospital could stop providing Alfie’s crucial life support against his parents wishes. Tom Evans and Kate James have been embroiled in a series of bitter legal disputes over their son’s wellbeing since the ruling. The Italian Foreign Ministry has now come through with a glimmer of hope for the desperate parents, and the couple are waiting for both the EU and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson to approve Alfie’s medical trip.
In a statement, the Italian Ministry said: “Foreign Minister Angeli Angelino Alfano and interior minister Marco Minniti have granted little Alfie citizenship. “The Italian Government hopes that being an Italian citizen will allow the child immediate transfer to Italy.” Earlier last week Mr Evans rushed to Rome where he met the Pope at the Vatican in a bid to grant his poor son asylum. Late on Monday, the Pope said: “Moved by the prayers and immense solidarity shown little Alfie Evans, I renew my appeal that the suffering of his parents may be heard and that their desire to seek new forms of treatment may be granted.”
AFP/GETTY•PA Alfie Evans update: The toddler's parents are trying to save his life in Italy
Why are Alfie’s parents trying to get to Italy? The poorly boy suffers an extremely rare degenerative neurological disorder which has left him bedridden for almost two years now. Born on May 9 2016, the boy suffered intense seizures and was entrusted in Alder Hey's care for 12 months. However Alfie’s situation took a turn for the worse and the hospital argued keeping the toddler on a ventilator did not work for his “best interests”, stressing further treatment was both “futile” and “inhumane”. The hospital finally flipped the switch on Alfie’s life support systems on Monday night, leaving the boy to breath unassisted for the first time in months. Alfie’s parents are now desperate to take Alfie to Rome's Bambino Gesu Paediatric Hospital, where they believe they can stand their ground and save their son’s life.
Alfie Evans latest pictures from the case Tue, April 24, 2018 Doctors have been left "gobsmacked" after Alfie's life-support was withdrawn but he continued to live. Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 27 Police stand guard outside Alder Hey Children's Hospital on April 24, 2018 in Liverpool
Mr Evans felt hopeful for his son’s future after he told reporters outside Alder Hey the toddler spent the last hours breathing by himself. He said: “They say Alfie’s suffering. Well, look at him now. He’s not even on a ventilator and he’s not suffering.”
The Italian Government hopes that being an Italian citizen will allow the child immediate transfer to Italy Italian Foreign Ministry
Alder Hey released a statement on Alfie’s condition this morning, to reassure patients and visitors everything was operating as usual despite the intense pressure and media interest. The hospital said: “We wish to reassure patients and families attending Alder Hey hospital today that we are operating as usual and that, although you will see a police presence, the hospital is calm. “Please attend your appointment as normal.” Alder Hey has categorically underlined it will no longer be responding to questions about the boy’s status.
PA Alfie Evans update: The poor boy suffers a degenerative neurological disorder
PA Alfie Evans update: The 23-month-old was granted Italian citizenship
What happens next? Alfie’s parents were granted an emergency hearing at the High Court today which could potentially shift the tides in their favour. The High Court hearing started at 3.30pm today, and is presided by Mr Justice Hayden in the Family Divisions of the High Court this afternoon in Manchester. Alfie’s parents were expected to attend the hearing. At an earlier court hearing in February, Alfie’s parents were told by a doctor there was “no hope” for the boy’s condition to improve.
PA Alfie Evans update: The Italian Ministry has granted the boy an Italian citizenship