L'Aquila, 14 May (LaPresse) – ‘Today I met with the guardian and the administrator. The meeting was cordial and productive. They have authorised me to state, in response to certain rumours in the press, that any possibility of foster care or adoption of the children must be ruled out entirely.’ This was stated by Simone Pillon, the new lawyer for the Trevallion-Birmingham couple, known as the ‘forest family’, who in November had their parental responsibility suspended by the L’Aquila Juvenile Court, resulting in the removal of their three minor children, who have been living in a foster home in Vasto (Chieti) for almost six months. The parents are fighting to be reunited with their children. The lawyer reported on the meeting he had with his clients, describing them as people who maintain great dignity and clarity of thought despite the suffering caused by the separation from their children. “They confirmed to me that the mother met with her children today,” he added. “They reiterated their willingness to provide all the documentation requested by the authorities in the best interests of the children. I confirmed to them that decisions regarding the children’s upbringing rest with the parents, as provided for by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and our Constitution,” added the Travaglini family’s solicitor, Birmingham. In conclusion, the new legal representative expressed his commitment to establishing a collaborative atmosphere with all parties involved, whilst asking for less media coverage of the case. ‘As the new defence lawyer, I am committed to establishing a collaborative atmosphere with everyone, provided that this is done with loyalty, fairness and transparency on all sides. I would like to thank the press which, as Jefferson said, acts as a watchdog over both political and judicial power,’ he concluded. ‘I would now like to ask for a reduction in media coverage in the interests of a successful outcome to the case.’