News

SURREY, BC, Nov 30 (LSN)  Since the revelations in February of overzealous BC social workers who in Quensel, a small town of British Columbia, apprehended 71 children from their parents in just two months (in only 5 cases were the removals deemed appropriate by a judge), pro-family organizations have kept a close watch on the province.  One such group, the Citizen’s Research Institute (CRI) based in Surrey, reported last week on the plight of the Marcu family.  Mrs. Marciella Marcu was contacted by social worker Julie Cringle in July, 1998.  Cringle suspected Marciella of being “overly concerned” about the health of her children.  Marciella was told to only take her children to certain doctors,  only when given permission, and that she must submit to a psychiatric assessment (with a doctor of the worker’s choosing) and that non-compliance would lead to apprehension of her children.  Marciella contacted the CRI for help on the advice of her pastor.  CRI determined that the worker had plans to get Marciella diagnosed with Munchhausen’s Syndrome by Proxy (MSBP) and thus enable the Child Protection Services to apprehend her children without investigation or question as is the procedure with such cases.  In order to appease the worker Marciella contacted internationally respected forensic psychiatrist Dr. Joseph Noone who reported that she did not suffer from MSBP.  Not satisfied with Marciella’s initiative, Ross Dawson the Director of Child Protective Services ordered the apprehension of the Marcu children.  In order to avoid the kidnapping of their children, the Marcu family decided that Marciella and the children would go into hiding.  Ioan Marcu, the father, was arrested on Monday, November 2, 1998 and put in jail.  On November 4th, he was sentenced to 29 days in jail for failing to disclose the location of his wife and children.  He was released on the 14th after a public rally in which 70 demonstrators including the Marcu family doctor protested the anti-family antics.  The family then offered to come out of hiding provided that their case be heard in court prior to their children being taken from them. The government has however not responded to their plea for fairness and maintains an arrest warrant for Mrs. Marcu and an apprehension order for the Marcu children.  Kari Simpson, of the CRI challenged BC’s Premier to conduct a full investigation into the actions of Ross Dawson, Director of Child Protection Services.  “I have never witnessed such tyranny in the ten years the Citizens Research Institute has assisted families, she said.  “Since Ross Dawson became “Director” the scoop first, ask questions later, hide behind the skirts of the judiciary mentality, has resulted in hundreds of children and their families being abused.”“The Premier should intervene immediately and review the conduct of Mr. Dawson.”  For more information on the Marcu case contact Kari Simpson at Citizens Research Institute SUITE 202 – 7337, 137TH Street, Surrey, B.C. V3W 1A4 Phone: (604) 502-8876 Fax: (604) 502-8875 E-mail [email protected] www.citizensresearch.com