Overview
- The L'Aquila juvenile court on November 20 removed three children and suspended parental authority, placing them in a care facility after more than a year of observation and unmet court prescriptions.
- Magistrates' associations describe the measure as an extrema ratio based on technical assessments covering safety, hygiene, schooling and sociality, including findings of no running water and no internal bathroom.
- Justice Minister Carlo Nordio discussed the case with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and is considering sending inspectors to review procedure, while Matteo Salvini condemned the decision and vowed to meet the parents.
- The family’s lawyer says an appeal is being filed, claiming vaccinations are essentially complete, parental instruction has been authorized for 2025–26, the eldest passed an exam, and plans are in place to add a compliant bathroom and upgrades.
- The mother is housed with the children in the same facility under limitations, the father reports the minors are distressed, and public mobilization has grown after checks that followed a suspected mushroom poisoning.