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Social workers in Austria, seize baby after grandmother failed to pay a speeding fine

By Staff K 06/02/2012 19:29:00

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Together: Ann-Kathrin has not been able to see her one-year-old child Jonas Leitner for seven weeks

A mother has spoken of her struggle to be reunited with her baby after authorities seized him because the child's grandmother faced jail over an unpaid speeding fine.

Social workers in Austria took one-year-old Jonas Leitner from Ann-Kathrin, two months ago, insisting she would not be able to cope if her mother, Heidi, 50, who helped with babysitting, was imprisoned over the £800 ticket.

But authorities have still not reunited mother and son, despite the fact Heidi quickly paid off the debt.

Distraught Ann-Kathrin, 18, now has even missed her child's first steps and understands he is with his second foster family, while social workers process the case.
Ann-Kathrin has not been able to see her one-year-old child Jonas Leitner

Ann-Kathrin said: 'When they took him into care we rushed to borrow the money from family and friends and paid off the fine.

'But they didn't bring him back. It's now been seven weeks and apparently he's already with the second foster family. I don't know why they changed from the first family.’

Social workers in Wels in the province of Upper Austria have refused to discuss the case.

Spokesman Josef Gruber said the decision had not been taken lightly and that they were unable to comment on individual cases.

The young mother has now got a lawyer, Ronald Gabl, who has made a request at court for the child to be handed back.

He said: ‘Quite apart from the fact that the child was taken away because of the traffic offence, the question is how did social workers find out about the speeding ticket and was that a breach of data protection laws.’

Ann-Kathrin, who lives with the boy's father, Andreas, said they would have been able to manage even if her mother had gone to jail overt the unpaid ticket.

Gran Heidi said: ‘Of course a young mother needs support but they were managing fine. The youngster even has his own room.

‘When I realised it was a problem the fine was paid within two hours but it didn't seem to make any difference.

‘Now we're only allowed to see him once a week for an hour. The only exception was on his birthday on 26 January and we were allowed an extra hour.

‘It has had a devastating effect on my daughter- she missed her baby's first Christmas and his first tooth. Apparently he is also now walking.'