Jonathan Jackson

Re M [2026] – representing a mother in care proceedings where the eldest child of the family presented at hospital with injuries consistent with sexual abuse.   The child had made no allegations.  Medical evidence from a number of experts was required to consider potential medical explanations for the child’s presentation, to include, in particular, whether her diagnosis of cystic fibrosis had any impact on her presentation.

Re L [2026] – representing a mother in care proceedings led by Gemma Taylor KC.  The matter was listed for 20-day finding of fact hearing before HHJ Loveridge.  The allegations related to the sexual abuse and exploitation of children and vulnerable young adults by the parents.

Manchester City Council v M, F and others [2026] EWFC 75 – representing a father, led by Andrew Norton KC, facing allegations of sexual abuse of a former partner’s child and historic rape of an adult, where he was identified as the alleged perpetrator following DNA analysis.    The case required a detailed analysis of DNA evidence as well as challenge to a poorly conducted ABE interview of the child.

Re B [2025] – second junior counsel to Fiona Holloran.  Representing the surviving child of a family where it is the youngest child of the family died after suffering a serious head injury.   Hayden J found that the mother had caused the death of the child.   The mother was subsequently charged with murder and is awaiting trial.

Re H [2024] – representing the child, led by Michael Jones KC, in a fact-finding hearing before HHJ Edge involving catastrophic brain injuries, bruising and fractures, sustained by an 8-month-old baby.  Additionally, the child suffered eye injuries which were alleged by the medical evidence to be caused by the deliberate and recurrent application of a caustic substance to the eye, or scraping of the eye, by the perpetrator.

Re: T (Fact-Finding : Second Appeal) [2023] EWCA Civ 475 – Led by Barbara Connolly KC.  Representing the children on a second appeal against the decision of HHJ Greensmith to overturn findings of sexual abuse made a Deputy District Judge in care proceedings.  Appeal allowed and findings restored.

Re L [2021] – representing a father in a 16 day fact finding and final hearing before HHJ O’Leary.  The father was facing serious allegations of physical and sexual abuse of his 4 year old daughter and her mother and the child had been removed from his care by the Local Authority.  After hearing evidence, the court made no findings against the father and found that the mother had exaggerated comments made by the child and encouraged her to make allegations.  At the end of the lengthy proceedings, the child was returned to the care of the father after 16 months of being in foster care.  The court allowed very limited, and professionally supervised, contact between the child and the mother due to an assessed high risk of future false allegations.

Re L [2020] – representing a father on an application made by local authority foster carers for an Adoption Order relating to his daughter.  The mother applied for discharge of the Care Order upon receipt of the foster carers’ application.  During the course of the proceedings, the mother was assessed, as was a paternal family member put forward by the father.  The paternal family member’s assessment was positive.   The case involved interesting legal argument about whether and when adoptive care plans should be approved when a family member has been positively assessed.  Expert evidence was required and challenged at the final hearing.  Ultimately, whilst the court found that all parties had acted in good faith and showed enormous dignity throughout the process, it could not approve a plan whereby all legal ties were severed through adoption when positive family assessments had been completed, notwithstanding the length of time the child had been placed with the foster carers (3 years) and the lack of relationship with the family member.  The court dismissed the application for an adoption order and approved the Local Authority’s revised final plan to move the child into the care of the paternal aunt under the existing care order.  The case further involved cultural implications and discussion as the child was black Caribbean, placed with white foster carers, whereas the family placement offered a closer cultural match.

Re B [2020] – second junior counsel to Rehana Begum in a 13-day finding of fact hearing in the Family Court at Manchester, representing an intervenor accused of causing extensive injuries to a 5-month-old baby. The court found the child’s mother responsible for all of the injuries and made no adverse findings against the intervenor.

Re H [2019] – representation of an intervenor in care proceedings at a seven-day finding of fact hearing in the Family Court in Manchester. The client was facing allegations of the most serious nature, including the deliberate burning of the subject child.