Alder Hey have spoken out after the latest appeal in the Alfie Evans case was denied by The Supreme Court.
The specialist children's hospital released a statement this afternoon after The Supreme Court confirmed they would not grant permission to the family for a second Supreme Court appeal hearing.
In a statement released on its website, Alder Hey said: "Today the Supreme Court upheld the decision of the High Court and the Court of Appeal confirming that 'it has been conclusively determined that it is not in Alfie’s best interests to continue to receive treatment or to travel abroad for treatment'.”
"The Supreme Court acknowledged that this was a 'desperately sad case…principally of course for Alfie’s parents for they love their little boy dearly and want to do all in their power to keep him alive. But it is sad also for the people who have been keeping Alfie alive for so long, the doctors and nurses at Alder Hey hospital.'
"Having reviewed the application the Supreme Court concluded that 'The release to which (Alfie) is entitled, therefore, is release from the imposition of treatment which is not in his best interests.'
" Alfie’s parents have done everything in their power to do what they think is best for him even though that is contrary to the views of the doctors.
"That has inevitably prolonged the period over which he has been given treatment that was determined in February not to be in his best interests. In concluding their judgment, the Supreme Court said:
“There is also no reason for further delay. There will be no further stay of the Court of Appeal’s order. The hospital must be free to do what has been determined to be in Alfie’s best interests. That is the law in this country. No application to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg can or should change that.”
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"The Supreme Court had also dismissed the suggestion that Alfie was either “detained” or “unlawfully detained”.
"We understand that this decision is very distressing for Alfie’s family at this very difficult time."
On Monday April 16 at a Court of Appeal hearing Lord Justices Moylan and Davis, and Lady Justice King denied their legal teams last-minute appeal under an ancient legal writ known as Habeas Corpus - which involves false imprisonment.
Their appeal was then referred to the Supreme Court, who have now announced they will not give permission for the family to appeal .
A spokesperson for the Supreme Court said: "Having considered submissions from the parties 'on paper', in the usual way, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom has refused permission for the parents to appeal."
Alfie Evans (2016-2018)
Using the Habeas Corpus argument, barrister Paul Diamond - from the Christian Legal Centre - claimed that Alder Hey was illegally imprisoning Alfie by not allowing him to travel to Rome for treatment at the Bamibino Gesú.
He claimed that denying the family the right to take Alfie to Rome was a 'deprivation of his liberties' and that the court's previous decision to judge the case solely on the best interests of Alfie was wrong.
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The court heard: "The parents have parental rights, as recognised both in the Children’s Act and in Article 8 [of the Human Rights Act] that they have the right to remove the child unless there is an order in place removing their right."
Mr Diamond also claimed the case was "not about determining Alfie's best interests," but was "about a father who still has parental rights, hoping to remove his child from the hospital."
However, judges ruled against his argument, and upheld a previous court order which says Alfie's ventilation should be withdrawn.
It is their second attempt at the Court of Appeal, and the latest in a series of legal challenges against the ruling.