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Gammy case: child protection officers make contact with Australian couple Gammy case: child protection officers make contact with Australian couple
(about 5 hours later)
Child protection officers are in touch with the Australian couple who left their son Gammy, who has Down’s syndrome, in Thailand with his surrogate mother while they took his twin sister home.Child protection officers are in touch with the Australian couple who left their son Gammy, who has Down’s syndrome, in Thailand with his surrogate mother while they took his twin sister home.
The surrogate agency that arranged for Pattaramon Chanbua, 21, to carry the West Australian couple’s babies said the couple, David and Wendy Farnell, initially offered to bring Gammy home with them.The surrogate agency that arranged for Pattaramon Chanbua, 21, to carry the West Australian couple’s babies said the couple, David and Wendy Farnell, initially offered to bring Gammy home with them.
Pattaramon said the couple abandoned Gammy and asked her to abort the baby when she was seven months pregnant.Pattaramon said the couple abandoned Gammy and asked her to abort the baby when she was seven months pregnant.
The agent, who wanted to be identified only by her nickname, Joy, said: “In the end, they told me they would take both babies. They didn’t want to be a problem for the surrogate mother any more but she [Pattaramon] did not take that chance.”The agent, who wanted to be identified only by her nickname, Joy, said: “In the end, they told me they would take both babies. They didn’t want to be a problem for the surrogate mother any more but she [Pattaramon] did not take that chance.”
Joy said she thought it was a good solution for Pattaramon to take Gammy and there had been a lot of confusion over what to do about the situation, especially considering how ill the child was. She added Pattaramon was unhappy about being paid in instalments.Joy said she thought it was a good solution for Pattaramon to take Gammy and there had been a lot of confusion over what to do about the situation, especially considering how ill the child was. She added Pattaramon was unhappy about being paid in instalments.
More details of David Farnell’s history of abusing children has emerged, with offences dating back to the early 1980s when he was in his mid-20s.More details of David Farnell’s history of abusing children has emerged, with offences dating back to the early 1980s when he was in his mid-20s.
Court documents seen by Guardian Australia reveal Farnell assaulted at least three girls in the 1990s and was jailed for three years for indecently dealing with twin girls who were under 10.Court documents seen by Guardian Australia reveal Farnell assaulted at least three girls in the 1990s and was jailed for three years for indecently dealing with twin girls who were under 10.
The ABC has seen further documents which reportedly show multiple offences through the 1980s and 1990s, with some involving penetration.The ABC has seen further documents which reportedly show multiple offences through the 1980s and 1990s, with some involving penetration.
Farnell’s son spoke for the first time on Wednesday to defend his father. “I can tell you how good of a father my dad was towards us. He’s amazing. He’s brought the best out of all of us kids,” he told Fairfax Media.Farnell’s son spoke for the first time on Wednesday to defend his father. “I can tell you how good of a father my dad was towards us. He’s amazing. He’s brought the best out of all of us kids,” he told Fairfax Media.
“He’s just got a massive heart. He’s made mistakes, we’ve accepted it … he’s made up for them.“He’s just got a massive heart. He’s made mistakes, we’ve accepted it … he’s made up for them.
“For everything to be brought back up [is] pretty heartbreaking to be honest.”“For everything to be brought back up [is] pretty heartbreaking to be honest.”
Western Australia’s child protection minister, Helen Morton, said the government was assessing the couple’s suitability as parents and child protection officers had made contact with them.Western Australia’s child protection minister, Helen Morton, said the government was assessing the couple’s suitability as parents and child protection officers had made contact with them.
“We think the family deserves the opportunity for privacy and confidentiality and the issues around the safety and wellbeing of the child are our major issue,” she said.“We think the family deserves the opportunity for privacy and confidentiality and the issues around the safety and wellbeing of the child are our major issue,” she said.
“It’s not a major concern, it’s just that this is our focus.” Morton said the process could take weeks.“It’s not a major concern, it’s just that this is our focus.” Morton said the process could take weeks.
The couple have not been seen at their Bunbury home all week but told media through a friend that they did not abandon Gammy.The couple have not been seen at their Bunbury home all week but told media through a friend that they did not abandon Gammy.
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