AECO, Re [2025] EWCOP 5 (T2)

Application by the public guardian to discharge JO, mother of AECO, as deputy.

At a previous hearing JO had been suspended as a deputy and a panel deputy appointed on an interim basis. The public guardian had concerns over JO's handling of money, failure to report and lack of co-operation.   

After reviewing the evidence HHJ Cronin broadly agrees with the PG's arguments. She also agrees with their submission that, following CL v Swansea Bay University Health Board [2024] EWCOP 22, the court has an unfettered power to remove a deputy where it is in a protected party's best interest to do so. While noting at [16] that the court will always prefer to have a family member as a deputy, in this case JO has not been able to fulfil her duties and so she appoints the interim deputy on a final basis.

Read the judgment on Bailii