Hundreds of people have staged a protest outside a hospital in Merseyside where a terminally ill toddler is being cared for.

A date to switch off the life support for Alfie Evans has been set by a High Court judge following a legal battle.

Alfie's parents' legal fight against the decision ultimately ended in March when the European Court of Human Rights rejected their case.

Merseyside Police had asked protesters at Alder Hey to be respectful.

Officers said the "large" and "peaceful" protest in Liverpool on Thursday night "did cause significant traffic disruption and inconvenience for other people trying to access the hospital".

Alfie's parents Tom Evans and Kate James, who are both in their 20s and from Liverpool, have lost cases in the High Court, Court of Appeal, and had their case rejected by the Supreme Court and European Court of Human Rights.



Tom Evans on the left pictured at Alder Hey last night

The family told the BBC they had a private ambulance and jet on stand-by.

They say the court order would end at the point the hospital removes ventilation from Alfie, at which moment they will take over and fly him to Rome.

Alder Hey say they will not allow that to happen but speaking on Thursday evening Mr Evans said they were confident they would succeed.

He said: "There's no court order to say Alfie has to stay in this hospital right now.

"The truth behind the matter is that me and Kate hold full responsibility and we can take him to our transportation van with full equipment with the doctors who have got full duty of care… and they are not allowing us so we are hoping that my solicitor is going to spin the spoon and get us out."

In February, Mr Justice Hayden ruled doctors at Alder Hey could stop treating Alfie against the wishes of his parents following hearings in the Family Division of the High Court in London and Liverpool.

On Wednesday, the judge said what had happened to Alfie was "profoundly unfair", as the court endorsed an end-of-life care plan drawn up by specialists.

He said details of that plan could not be revealed because Alfie was entitled to privacy at the end of his life.

Sorry but this is all you need to read...


" a terminally ill toddler is being cared for."

It's sad, but some times you just have to let them go.

Originally Posted by Ceam

Sorry but this is all you need to read...


" a terminally ill toddler is being cared for."

It's sad, but some times you just have to let them go.

Indeed.
And protesting at night outside a hospital where hundreds of sick children are being cared for is frankly moronic behaviour.

nothing new for Liverpool then

It really annoys me, Alder Hey are in the business on saving young children.

This has become about what the parents want not what is best for the child.

We spent 16 weeks in hospital when my eldest was born, Most of them at Alder Hey. These people are not far of miracle workers and certainly don't give up on children.

Shrines outside burgled houses, mass protests outside hospitals, probable more bombing in an hopeless situation in Syria and risking a major Russian/USA conflict and more killings in London % wise than New York!!!........

Many more examples, not even mentioned all the "Environmental" catastrophe we are responsible for.......Seriously we are a F*****D up species!!!

Thankfully we have never been in the situation Alfie's parents are in, but like any normal parent I would want to explore every avenue if there was a glimmer of hope.

If my wife was in such a state that she could do nothing for herself and said to me would I crush some tablets into a drink and give her an overdose I would be arrested for assisting in ending her pain. Yet people OTHER than his parents can decide whether he lives or dies and they will not allow his parents take him to wherever they want to try and see if there is a way of alleviating his condition and even giving them a little more time together.

I am not religious and I do not believe in some all powerful being making decisions but I would expect his parents to be given the respect they deserve and allowed to take him anywhere they wished I am sure they would prefer him to die trying to find a miracle rather than watch him being given Assisted Suicide by State which is in effect what this is.

There sure is a lot of tosh spouted on here by some of the usual suspects.
I would willingly sacrifice myself for any of my children and what I've seen of this young Father fills me with admiration and pride for fatherhood.
He is barely past being a child himself yet he has taken on the Establishment with great courage and dignity.
How are the protesters moronic - who was put in danger or harmed by it - get over yourself!

Originally Posted by gazaprop

There sure is a lot of tosh spouted on here by some of the usual suspects.
I would willingly sacrifice myself for any of my children and what I've seen of this young Father fills me with admiration and pride for fatherhood.
He is barely past being a child himself yet he has taken on the Establishment with great courage and dignity.
How are the protesters moronic - who was put in danger or harmed by it - get over yourself!

I agree. It makes such a refreshing change to see a very young father and mother so devoted to their child. If only more of the young parents around showed this sort of devotion to their children, then the youth of today would be much better off ! Instead they lump their children in front of TV's or computers and don't care what they get up to outside of the house.

Originally Posted by gazaprop

There sure is a lot of tosh spouted on here by some of the usual suspects.
I would willingly sacrifice myself for any of my children and what I've seen of this young Father fills me with admiration and pride for fatherhood.
He is barely past being a child himself yet he has taken on the Establishment with great courage and dignity.
How are the protesters moronic - who was put in danger or harmed by it - get over yourself!

I'm fairly sure that most parents would move mountains if it would help their child, but there are probably a good number of very poorly children in Alder Hey, these protesters/supporters prevented or interfered with parents going in to visit their children, some of the comments from alleged supporters, being bandied about on bloody facebook denigrating Alder Hey and the medical staff are disgusting.

Let's not forget it is only due to the hard work and dedication of medical staff that this little boy is still alive, this little boy has been examined by other specialists independently of Alder Hey and all have reached the same sad conclusion, that this little boy has no independent future, as to whether he is suffering or not is not known because of lack of response from him.

I'm very relieved that I have never been in this situation and don't know just how I would react, but I'm also more than a little suspicious of the parents actions, is all the legal activity for the little boy or for them?

Originally Posted by Little Londoner

Thankfully we have never been in the situation Alfie's parents are in, but like any normal parent I would want to explore every avenue if there was a glimmer of hope.

If my wife was in such a state that she could do nothing for herself and said to me would I crush some tablets into a drink and give her an overdose I would be arrested for assisting in ending her pain. Yet people OTHER than his parents can decide whether he lives or dies and they will not allow his parents take him to wherever they want to try and see if there is a way of alleviating his condition and even giving them a little more time together.

I am not religious and I do not believe in some all powerful being making decisions but I would expect his parents to be given the respect they deserve and allowed to take him anywhere they wished I am sure they would prefer him to die trying to find a miracle rather than watch him being given Assisted Suicide by State which is in effect what this is.

It's not assisted Suicide, The state as you put it, or in this case Alder Hey Children's hospital have been keeping him artificially alive for months.


While I have fortunately not been put in this situation, I have come very close to loosing a child, who was saved by Alder Hey.



They are in the buissness of saving lives not taking them.

Originally Posted by gazaprop

who was put in danger or harmed by it - get over yourself!

Well potentially any emergency case that needed to get through the crowd.

I'm afraid I have to echo the sentiments of many on here. That poor child has a terminal illness and, most importantly, no chance of any quality of life. I think that is the essence of the matter: is anything going to give Alfie any pain free quality of life?

Sadly there isn't. Yes he may be pain free whilst hooked up to goodness knows how many machines and how many drugs pumped into him. He may even respond now and again. But prolonging the life of a terminally ill child, in his condition, does no good for him or anyone.

I believe this is more about the parents than Alfie. I'm sure they are heartbroken and will do anything to keep him clinging to life. I understand that. But is it the right thing for Alfie?

The Father of Alfie is the flag bearer for every father.

He is doing everything in his mind to try and save his sons life.

If an Italian Doctor can do something than as a Father he must act.

I must say the News coverage ITV & BBC has been a little bias.

They seem to interview people who are in pyjamas or full of tattoos or working class people with little education and have bad body language to portray the supporters of Alfie Army

I took it on my self to support the father when he asked people to come down to Alder Hay to stand/vigil and show him some support . He had a plane waiting all medical help was available but he was not allowed to use his gut feeling and take his son abroad for medical help.
We all have our own opinions but with out all the facts some times our opinion can be wrong.

The Fathers judgement may be wrong, if his child dies he understands that, but first give the Italian doctors a chance.

By the way I had no problem visiting the hospital and when inside I could hear no noise.

The people out side respected the hospital and the patients.

The police's body language was a problem, all with body armour. I think the police misjudged the Scoucers, there was no trouble.

Must have been nearly 100 police ...It was the police cars parked on pavements yellow lines on bends that obstructed the entrance.

I even spoke to the Father and Mother, believe me lovely people.

In Alder Hey hospital there is a prayer room............. Sorry to say NO ONE WAS IN IT.

Love to Alfie

While I have fortunately not been put in this situation, I have come very close to loosing a child, who was saved by Alder Hey.

ceam

While I have fortunately not been put in this situation, I have come very close to loosing a child, who was saved by Alder Hey.

I too have to thank the treatment My son received at the age of 8 when he got cancer.

He recovered now 6ft 4ins 15 stone.

Originally Posted by theantiquesman

The Father of Alfie is the flag bearer for every father.

He is doing everything in his mind to try and save his sons life.

If an Italian Doctor can do something than as a Father he must act.

I must say the News coverage ITV & BBC has been a little bias.

They seem to interview people who are in pyjamas or full of tattoos or working class people with little education and have bad body language to portray the supporters of Alfie Army

I took it on my self to support the father when he asked people to come down to Alder Hay to stand/vigil and show him some support . He had a plane waiting all medical help was available but he was not allowed to use his gut feeling and take his son abroad for medical help.
We all have our own opinions but with out all the facts some times our opinion can be wrong.

The Fathers judgement may be wrong, if his child dies he understands that, but first give the Italian doctors a chance.

By the way I had no problem visiting the hospital and when inside I could hear no noise.

The people out side respected the hospital and the patients.

The police's body language was a problem, all with body armour. I think the police misjudged the Scoucers, there was no trouble.

Must have been nearly 100 police ...It was the police cars parked on pavements yellow lines on bends that obstructed the entrance.

I even spoke to the Father and Mother, believe me lovely people.

In Alder Hay hospital there is a prayer room............. Sorry to say NO ONE WAS IN IT.

Love to Alfie

At last an eye witness account instead of the terminally indignant posting their usual claptrap about what must surely be happening - in their narrow minds that is.
That young Father has my unqualified and unwavering admiration.