Under the Aegis: Giving Children a Voice in Their Court Report

Discover how TIGALA Guardians ad Litem ensure that children’s voices are represented in court. Learn with whom court reports are shared and how they're used by judges to make decisions in the child’s best interests.

At TIGALA, we believe that every child’s voice matters. In this latest Under the Aegis instalment, TIGALA Director Claire Quinn and Val Kerr, a Guardian ad Litem with TIGALA, address some questions they frequently receive from children, chief among them being: “Who will get to see the report about me?”

When a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) prepares a court report, it’s more than just documenting information – it’s about capturing the child’s voice and ensuring that their feelings and experiences are conveyed. For Claire and Val, this is a vital part of their role as Guardians and to do it effectively they need to dive into the child's world and speak the their language to connect, whether that's the language of play, pottery or poetry.

When the Guardian ad Litem report goes to the court, it's important for children to understand that all the people in the court proceedings will see the report. That includes the Guardian ad Litem, a child's parents, the Tusla social worker and their team leader, solicitors for all parties, and the judge who makes the decisions.

The report is shared with everyone involved in the case, providing each party – including the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) and the child’s parents – an opportunity to read it beforehand to get real understanding of what the child's wishes and feelings are. Through the court reports, GALs like Claire and Val make sure that the court has a clear understanding of the child’s perspective, needs, and wishes and how they fit into the bigger picture of the child's life.

The wishes and feelings section is a huge part of the Guardian’s report, and a really, really important – the most important – part.

In court, the Guardian then stands ready to present the report, answer questions, and even undergo cross-examination if the judge so wishes. This allows them to make sure that every point is heard and taken into account, especially when it relates to decisions impacting the child’s welfare.

Throughout the entire process, the TIGALA team works to ensure children feel comfortable and confident in what’s happening. It’s important that children know who gets to see the report so they're not surprised and so they can feel secure in what’s happening.

With over a thousand children supported since TIGALA’s founding in 2014, our Guardians ad Litem continue to uphold a commitment to child advocacy, ensuring that each child’s voice is represented with clarity, respect, and dedication in court.