British mother fights to be removed from US child abuse register - Update

A mother whose daughters went to an orphanage when she became ill in New York wants her name removed from a US abuse register.

Yvonne Bray from Appledore, Devon, was taken to hospital with pneumonia during a post-Christmas shopping trip in New York last December. Gemma, 16, and Katie, 14, were kept in a children's home for nearly two days.

The New York Administration for Children's Services (ACS) has denied there is an ongoing case.



After returning home to Devon, the ACS wrote to Ms Bray saying she was the "subject of a report of suspected child abuse or maltreatment received by the New York State Child Abuse Maltreatment Register". The letter went on: "This means that you have been identified as the person who is responsible for causing or allowing to be inflicted injury, abuse, or maltreatment to children."

Ms Bray has recently completed a 12-month training course to become a foster carer, but she said she was unable to start fostering until she is free from the abuse accusation.

"Because I fell ill during the holiday, my name is now on the child abuse register in New York. Until I can clear my name, if I set foot back on US soil I'm scared I could be arrested and my children taken into care."

Previously.