Wisdom Of Solomon? Don't Make Me Laugh!

A High Court judge has stopped a blind World War II hero from returning home for Christmas despite a heartbreaking appeal from the 97-year-old former Royal Navy gunner.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons told Mr Justice Hayden at the family division of the High Court: 'I did six years in the navy during the war. I think I deserve some respect at my age.'

Well, you'd think so, wouldn't you? If you hadn't been paying attention, that is.

Mr Justice Hayden said it had been a privilege to speak to the pensioner, but said he could not make an immediate decision on the case, which will now be heard in the third week of January.

The judge gets his Christmas at home, of course. Why should he hurry?

But Julia, you cry, why single out the judge, this is another of those cases where the greedy council want to hang on to him because he's a cash cow! Well, reader, you may be right, but...

Wait.

Social services bosses agree with arguments put forward by the pensioner's lawyers.

Pardon me?

Barrister Katie Scott, who is leading the council's legal team, has also argued the pensioner is capable of making his own decisions.

She has told judges that council staff have safety concerns and says a return home might not be wise.

But she says the pensioner has the right to make 'unwise' decisions. She says the pensioner can, and will, call for help when at home if he needs it.

Well, well, well...

Judges have ruled the pensioner cannot be identified in media reports. They also say the council involved could not be named because that information might create a jigsaw which would reveal the pensioner's identity.

So the only ones whose identity we do know are the judges & lawyers. I bet when they were drawing up the family court system, they wished they'd thought to build in anonymity for themselves.