A couple whose children were taken away for two years after
a false accusation of sexual abuse have been awarded a six-figure
compensation payout.
Tim and Gina Williams's three young children were placed
in separate foster homes after social workers wrongly suspected
them.
Their ordeal began in May 2004, when Mr Williams discovered
a semi-naked 11-year- old boy on top of his daughter, Courtney,
then five, following a neighbourhood paddling pool party.
He called police, but a medical examination resulted in social
services stepping in, after a doctor claimed that the child
had been the victim of abuse by an adult.
As a result, social services judged Mr and Mrs Williams could
both pose a potential risk to Courtney and her siblings Zara
and Ieuan.
In August 2004 the children were taken away.
Their parents were allowed just two 90-minute, supervised
visits a week.
But two years ago, the family, from Newport, South Wales,
were reunited after a judge exonerated the parents. The case
collapsed a week before a final court hearing, after the family
consulted a U.S. expert who found no suggestion of any sexual
abuse.
A UK doctor agreed - and the original doctor who had examined
Courtney then accepted their findings.
Newport council asked for the case to be dropped and the
children were returned to their parents in September
