Seven-month-old in Galicia Moves to Foster Care as Investigation Continues into Reported Abuse
A seven-month-old baby from Porriño, Vigo, who was admitted to Álvarez Cunqueiro Hospital with injuries believed to be caused by the child’s father, is now out of danger and under the care of Aldeas Infantiles, according to information obtained by this publication. The court has taken precautionary steps, removing the guardianship from the parents and placing provisional custody with the Xunta de Galicia, which operates a specialized foster program in collaboration with Aldeas Infantiles.
The hospital visit occurred in January when the mother brought the infant to the emergency department at Álvaro Cunqueiro with multiple injuries. Medical staff documented the wounds and followed established protocols for child protection. In addition to bite marks, doctors observed facial injuries and rib fractures that had already begun to show healing. This prompted investigations by the Juvenile Court and Investigation Court Number 1 in Porriño into a potential case of mistreatment by the child’s father.
The mother, then nineteen years old, reported the situation to authorities. After notifying the Civil Guard, she explained that she briefly stepped away to prepare a bottle, returning to find the baby severely injured and needing immediate hospital care. During the window when the injuries occurred, the child was in the care of the father, who is twenty-three years old, according to the mother’s account. The couple, residents of Porriño, lived in Pontellas with limited resources. The father also has a criminal record for a theft in Tui.
The judge ordered the father to appear for questioning, but he disappeared on the day the baby was admitted. He was later located in Tui by the Civil Guard and brought before the Juvenile Court of Porriño. He was released while the investigation continued, charged with mistreatment. As a precautionary measure, the court issued a restraining order against the minor, suspended parental rights, and required periodic court appearances every fifteen days.
The mother, still nineteen at the time, had previously told authorities that upon returning from preparing a bottle she found the infant injured and promptly took him to the hospital.
Provisional guardianship of the seven-month-old has since been transferred to the Xunta and entrusted to Aldeas Infantiles to provide care while the judicial process unfolds. This arrangement aligns with formal agreements in Galicia between the regional government and the non-profit child-care organization to place children with foster families when immediate family preservation is not feasible, under protective measures.
The arrangement reflects a broader policy in Galicia that prioritizes foster care as a safeguard for minors when immediate family preservation is not feasible, until a court resolves custody and parental rights in the context of protection proceedings.
The mother reported to authorities that after leaving briefly to prepare a bottle for the child, she returned to find the baby injured and then took him to the hospital.
Evidence from health professionals and law enforcement indicates the baby is now receiving appropriate care under the supervision of Aldeas Infantiles, with the investigation ongoing to determine the full circumstances and any responsibilities of the adults involved.
The arrangement mirrors a regional policy in Galicia that favors foster care as a protective measure for minors when keeping the child with the birth family is not possible, until courts resolve custody and parental rights within protection proceedings.