Internet twins have returned to US

The twin baby girls at the centre of the Internet adoption
controversy have been safely returned to their native American
state of Missouri .

The children were accompanied on their journey by three
Flintshire council social workers, who have been responsible for
the case throughout, and the director of education and
children’s services Keith McDonogh. They travelled from
Manchester airport to St Louis via Chicago.

The nine-month-old twins are in the custody and control of the
division of family Services of the Missouri Court, as ruled by Mr
Justice Kirkwood in the high court.

He decided against allowing the children stay with their
adoptive parents Judith and Alan Kilshaw, who paid for them through
an internet adoption agency before bringing them back to Britain.
The judge rejected claims from the Kilshaws that Flintshire council
had acted improperly by placing the twins in foster care in
January.

Flintshire council’s social workers placed the girls with
foster parents on a confidential basis, pending a decision on their
future by the Missouri court.

Philip McGreevy, the council’s chief executive, said:
“Flintshire County Council took the children into its care on
January 18 and their safety and welfare have been our paramount
concern throughout. We are pleased that Mr Justice Kirkwood
publicly confirmed that the council has acted appropriately
throughout, and that the foster arrangements provided by us for the
children worked very well to meet their needs and promote their
welfare.”

McGreevy continued by thanking Manchester Airport senior staff,
American Airlines and colleagues in the state of Missouri for
ensuring the twins had a safe journey.

“On behalf of Flintshire County Council, the foster carers in
Flintshire and indeed the people of Flintshire I would like to now
wish these two little girls our very best wishes for the future,”
he concluded.