Fran Lyon has left the country

[milliec]

Message withdrawn

In my honest opinion, it's not so much the fact that questions are being asked of Fran, as much as the way they are being asked, in almost a bullying way.

Nonametoday - I think that people on here are more than happy for posters to hold different opinions. In fact Fran has graciously answered a lot of questions.

I think the problem with Posen is that she is aggressively and unreasonably pursuing Fran for answers to very specific questions (like how many hospital admissions she has had since preg).

NoNameToday - You, like everyone else can have any view & ask questions what i was objecting to was the fact posen kept on asking the same question when fran had answered her on many occassions, then when posen repeated herself fran did ask if there was anything else she thought she was not saying but posne will not answer, so how can fran answer her when she wont say what it is she wants to know, except what she has said & Fran has answered posen.

Hi NoNameToday,

I have no problem with dissent, or with answering questions. I also believe that if we had a society more able to ask questions and logically explore the answers then we might avoid such situations to begin with.

I'm going to misquote this horribly but it's all about that idea "I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it". (Was it Voltaire?)

Thanks,

Fran

Thank you Fran, whether the quotation is misquoted or not, I see we agree on the sentiment.

I was wondering if Posen was Rita Pal who wrote that very aggressive blog wanting Fran to reveal all her medical records. She probably isn't but it's hard not to be suspicious when she refuses to say who she is at Mumsnet.

Ruty, I walked around with a broken leg for a week because doctors didn't spot it on the x-ray. Luckily they called me back in. Your experience sounds absolutely horrible.

NNT please don't feel you can't join us in any discussion, it's just a lot of us have ben following & supporting Fran on MN & given the honesty with which she's answered the many & varied questions feel possibly a little defensive when someone name changes for what appears to be-sorry Posen but it does- suspicious reasons.

I think everyone wishes Fran well & it would be nice if she could come back & use MN as a support network as we all have at times, & as Sandy said for basic mother stuff when the time comes.

Oh I am so cross!

I've been sent a copy of a press release that Northumberland have put out in response to the Tonight programme and I am seething. It is so full of inaccuracies, misrepresentations and, much as I hate to say it, downright lies. All of which would have incensed me enough, however it takes the biscuit really that it's all been done without any acknowledgment whatsoever that I had left Northumberland, and Birmingham Children's Services had taken over.

I'm sorry, I do usually try to stay calm and think reasonably about things - but this has just really got under my skin.

I may well be being unreasonable and reactionary - in which case I apologise, and hopefully will see sense when I've calmed down a bit.

Sorry for ranting!

Fran

Rant away Fran!

How frustrating- I would be furious and very angry

You can force them to set the record straight you know?

Have you given any interviews to the press?

You are completely justified in being cross!

How CSS?

Northumberland County Council has reacted with concern to a national television show aired yesterday evening. ITV?s Tonight with Trevor McDonald programme featured Ms FranLyon.

Trevor Doughty, Executive Director of Children?s Services and Chair of the Northumberland Safeguarding Children Board, said: ?We are concerned to learn through the media that Ms Lyon has flown to an undisclosed country and her whereabouts is unknown.

?We urge Ms Lyon to get in touch with us, or a medical advisor, as soon as possible, so we can make sure the authorities wherever she is have what they need from us in order to support her and her unborn child.

?We would never put a child protection plan in place without current and appropriate grounds for serious concerns about the potential welfare of a child. Ms Lyon and her legal representative have attended all of her case conferences and have been fully informed of the concerns of the professionals involved in her case. They also received copies of all relevant documentation.

?It should be emphasised that the media treatment of Ms Lyon and the view of her case represented by some parts of the media, has significant implications. It is irresponsible and inaccurate to give out a message that vulnerable people should not seek support or help. Due to legal reasons we are unable to discuss the detail of individual cases and unfortunately it does mean that only one side is being heard.

?We welcome debate about matters of public concern, but need to remember that our priority is the welfare of the vulnerable individuals who are caught up in this. We take our responsibilities in this very seriously, and we will not shirk our duty of care to Ms Lyon and her unborn child. This remains our sole motivation.?

You have a solicitor, yes?

He should make contact with them, stating the innaccuracies and demanding they are corrected. This just confirms how inefficient they are. Amongst other things......

Have you considered making your own statement through the press. Since they are interested in you; you may as well use this to your advantage.

Fran there is no way you're being unreasonable. I suspect they have broken a law by issuing this statement. You have every right to be cross after the way you have been treated. Especially when someone lies and tries to imply you are irresponsible as this seems to be doing.

Do you have close neighbours? I would say punch a few cushions and do some growling - my neighbours think I am pretty weird I think :D

It has made me cross because:

• When I emigrated I was living in Birmingham. I had a GP there, a midwife, an SW, and was on the electoral roll. The case had been transferred to Birmingham. This no longer has anything to do with Northumberland.

• It implies that I've just irresponsibly hopped on a plane with a tv crew without a second thought. I have in fact spoken to my SW from Birmingham, written to Children's Services in Birmingham, spoken to my midwife from Birmingham and spoken to my old GP from Northumberland. I had also arranged medical care for Molly and me in my new home before I left.

• It states that I and my legal represntative have been present at all conferences. They have said this repeatedly - and have repeatedly been told they are wrong. There have been two conferences - at only one of which was I represented. At the other I did not have legal aid.

• They have not released all documents e.g. those pertaining to how the paediatrician came to be involved.

• They did not ever give their concerns to me, or to my legal team. That has been half the battle - trying to fathom precisely what we were dealing with.

Like I said, I may be being unreasonable here, or over-reacting - but it just really got to me.

Sorry.

Fran

No Fran YANBU!!

Can you releaser a press statement through your legal advisors?

Where & when is this press release going out?

Fran, lovey- you are not overreacting or being unreasonable. At All.

You need to take some legal advice tomorrow.

They are clearly concerned with how they have been represented on TV and in the press. Quite rightly so as it's been appalling-but all true.

They seem to be injecting a certain amount of 'spin' ; I suspect as a damage limitation excercise.

Just remind yourself that this kind of CRAP is exactly what you have escaped and are now free from

Did you get my email by the way!?

They make it sound so kind and lovely when in fact it's completely the opposite.

I'm not suprised you're angry, Fran. It seems like a very reasonable response under the circumstances.

Sorry your OWN press release I meant to say.

As Doricgirl said hit some cushions.....

To be honest I think the repetition of the same old guff they've been saying for weks doesn't show them up in a good light &enough people have seen your Tv appearances & several paper reports to know you've moved to Birmingham.

Cheeky sods.

you dont sound unreasonable to me-why on earth would you need to get in touch with the ss of a county where you no longer live and that has nothing to do with you anymore?

i agree,they could well have broken the law by issuing that statement

Soounds to me like they're panicking!!

Ha!

Hello,

Thank you. I don't know why this has irked me quite so much, but, my word!

I am assuming it has already gone out Bossy because it was a journalist who sent it to me. Where to I've no idea. Wherever they usually send them I'd imagine.

CSS - I might have had your e-mail, would I have been able to tell it was you?

Thanks,

Fran

I agree Bossy - the fact that they've been churning out the same old line all the time just makes it look like they can't think of anything to say or that the spokesperson knows nothing about the case. Especially now that it has been widely reported that you moved and transferred your case and they don't seem to know - just makes them look bad.

A dignified silence might be the reaction-see what your legal team say.

Really doesn't make them look up to speed does it??!!

Wouldn't worry over- much Fran you're out of it now, let them rant!