Ruth Armstrong

Care work forms the majority of Ruth’s practice and with her background in criminal proceedings she is particularly adept at cross examination and dealing with live evidence. Ruth represents parents, children and Local Authorities in a broad range of matters including cases involving physical, sexual abuse and neglect.

Recent cases include:

• Represented a drug-dependent and mentally ill mother through the final hearing regarding the placement of her 5 children to 3 different locations. Fully supported mother, promoted the application of 2 different SGOs and successfully challenged the contact schedule.
• Represented the schizophrenic and learning disabled mother through the removal process to ensure procedural fairness and successfully challenge contact.
• Represented grandparents in care proceedings where their grandchildren were suffering significant neglect as a result of mother’s drug and alcohol dependency and despite the Local Authority’s resistance successfully applied for them to become special guardians.

Ruth has conducted a range of Private Children Law work representing both Applicants and Respondents at all stages from First Appointment to Final Hearing and where necessary through to Appeal.

Recent cases include:

• Represented a Respondent mother challenging the father’s application for contact which involved conducting a successful fact finding hearing concerning the mother’s allegations of rape, other sexual misconduct and violence. The court found in the mother’s favour on every allegation which covered a period from 2009 to 2017.
• Represented a Chinese national who still lived with her estranged husband and was fighting for shared care. Challenging case where majority care was required in order to secure housing.
• Represented a teenage mother who suffered from anorexia, social anxiety and depression who was involved in an abusive 2 year relationship with allegations of rape and psychologically controlling behaviour. Resulted in a successful fact finding on all counts.